A professional football star has spoken of his shock at the discovery of the body of a pensioner found beaten to death in his home.

Bradford City goalkeeper, Aidan Davison owns the home in Close House where his tenant, 77-year-old Bill Pyle, lived and died.

Mr Pyle's body was discovered in the burning home, near Bishop Auckland on November 4 with a fractured skull and other injuries.

The 33-year-old First Division player had met Mr Pyle on several occasions during the two years he had lived in the house and spoke of his shock at learning of the pensioner's violent end.

Mr Davison said: "I knew him. He was a lovely, old fellow."

Aidan Davison, who now lives in Leeds, grew up in Close House, in the adjacent street from where Mr Pyle was found dead and decided to invest in the area by buying several properties.

On the night of the fire he received a call from an agent who looks after his houses and rushed up from Yorkshire.

He said: "She called me late on Sunday night to say there had been a fire, so I rushed up and got there about midnight, but there was nothing I could have done. I just gave police a statement.

"I've been up a few times since then, but I haven't been in the house yet, it's basically still in the hands of the police.

"I don't know at this stage what will happen to the house, I will have to see what the extent of the damage. But that's not really something on my mind."

On Wednesday, Mr Pyle's daughter, 41-year-old Ann-Marie Pyle, from Coundon Grange, was arrested and charged with murder and arson.

She was remanded in custody and will appear at Newcastle Crown Court on Monday.