THE widow of a dog walker who was found with fatal head injuries in a country lane has been arrested on suspicion of murdering him.

Christina Button, 31, was arrested along with her 20-year-old nephew at her home in St Mary's Drive, West Rainton, on Tuesday morning.

Her husband George, 53, an electrician, died from severe head injuries after suffering a forceful blow as he walked his dog on Monday last week.

Police have been unable to confirm whether he was assaulted or hit by a vehicle.

Mrs Button and the couple's seven-year-old daughter were at his bedside when he died at Newcastle General Hospital last Wednesday.

It is believed that Mrs Button's nephew, Simon Tannerhill, who is from Houghton-le-Spring and who is also being questiuoned about the death, had been staying with the family.

Mr Button was found by a passing motorist lying in a pool of blood in St Mark's Lane, West Rainton, at about 7.30pm.

Police staged a reconstruction of his movements exactly a week later, on Monday this week. As the Advertiser went to press, the two suspects were still being questioned.