THREE men arrested on suspicion of the murder of an 80-year-old grandmother in Darlington are still in custody as enquiries continue.

Sybil Sibthorpe, 80, died after being subjected to a sustained assault on Thursday (May 9) at an end of terrace house on Haughton Road.

She was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics after being found in the garden.

A post-mortem examination found that she died as a result of head injuries.

Three local men – aged 44, 40 and 33 – were arrested at the property a short time later by police and are being held on suspicion of murder.

Nobody has been charged in connection with the incident.

The three men are each being held in a different police station in the Durham force area where they are being questioned by a team of 40 detectives who are working on the case.

It is believed Mrs Sibthorpe, of The Stray, in Eastbourne, was the landlady of the Haughton Road house and that at least two of the arrested men were tenants of one of the converted flats at the property.

Police have reassured the public that the assault on Mrs Sibthorpe was not a random attack and they continue to appeal for information from the public.

Anyone who witnessed anything suspicious or has any information that could help the investigation is asked to call the non-emergency number on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800-555-111.