The discovery of the body of a young mother has launched a murder investigation in Dawlish today.
The 36-year-old woman's body was found in a house in Iddesliegh Terrace, near Dawlish railway station at 3am this morning following a lengthy search involving the RNLI and police helicopter throughout the night.
Police confirmed a Dawlish man who was known to the woman was arrested on suspicion of murder at the house.
Police do not yet know how the woman died, but said they are treating her death as murder because of the circumstances surrounding the death.
Today the house, number 9 Iddesleigh Terrace was sealed off as forensic teams joined the Major Crime Investigation team. Additional officers from Exeter and Cornwall joined the South Devon officers.
The four-storey Edwardian house divided into flats is part of a terrace of 10 houses on the hill out of Dawlish.
Today shocked neighbours said there had been police activity at the house from 11pm and a white van belonging to one of the occupants of number 9 was towed away by police at 5am.
One neighbour, Michelle Swan, said: "I heard police activity at the house at about 11pm last night.
"It's very shocking to hear of something like this happening, especially next door."
South Devon's police chief, Supt Glen Mayhew said specially trained officers were supporting the murdered woman's family.
He added: "She was reported missing at tea time. Our Major Crime Investigation team will be bringing officers from Exeter and Cornwall today with specialist investigators and forensic experts.
"Officers from the specialist search team made the discovery.
"This is a set of tragic circumstances and I have specialist officers supporting the family.
"This is a very isolated incident and should not raise concerns amongst the wider community of South Devon around their personal safety."
Earlier in the evening a van was destroyed in an arson attack near the town although it is not believed the two incidents are related.
