Police wait to quiz injured man over mother-of-four's death

Detectives are still waiting to question a man arrested in connection with the murder of a mother-of-four as he remains in hospital with injuries.

Kent Police made "extensive searches" to locate the 54-year-old suspect after they discovered the body of Caroline Andrews, 52, at a property in The Street in Benenden on Thursday.

The man was located in the London area on Friday afternoon and taken to hospital for treatment to his injuries.

A Kent Police spokesman confirmed that the suspect remained in hospital and said his injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.

The arrest follows a manhunt involving armed officers, which saw police carry out searches throughout the county, including the rail network.

Neighbour Derek Catlin said Mrs Andrews lived at the property with her husband Stuart and their four children aged from around early to late teens, along with their two dogs.

Retired chartered surveyor Mr Catlin, 71, said: "They were very normal, very pleasant people. This makes us all feel very odd."

Another local, Karen Callaghan, 49, said: "It's very sad for the village. Everyone knows everyone round here. The locals have been here a long time."

A police cordon was put in place outside the large property - a bungalow called Greenacres - on a sprawling private estate opposite the village green. The scene is down the road from the exclusive Benenden School and off the village's main street.

A post-mortem examination took place on Friday and the death is being treated as a murder inquiry.

As part of the investigation, armed police boarded a train on Thursday night in Gillingham, in the north of the county.

The police spokesman said a search was launched after officers were called about the woman's death earlier in the day, at 4.20pm.

Armed police held the train at Gillingham station from around 9pm on Thursday for more than an hour and a half. Footage shows officers walking down the train carriage holding guns, with one distressed passenger demanding to be let off because he was claustrophobic.

Mrs Andrews was a "well-respected" supply teacher at Benenden C of E Primary School, based a short distance from her home.

Headteacher Gill Knox said: "The tragic death of Caroline Andrews has left the staff at Benenden C of E School shocked and saddened.

"Caroline and her family live in the village and are well known at the school. Caroline has been a loved and well-respected supply teacher for a number of years who has enriched the lives of the many children she taught.

"At the present time we cannot comment on what has happened but our thoughts and prayers are with her family and all who knew her and will miss her."