The woman a 92-year-old Ipswich man has been arrested on suspicion of murdering was a twice-widowed woman in her 70s.

Officers from Avon and Somerset Police investigating the murder of Louisa Dunne arrested a man on suspicion of murder and rape on Tuesday. 

Ms Dunne, who was 75, was found dead in her home in Britannia Road, Easton, by a neighbour on June 28, 1967.

Louisa Dunne was found dead in 1967 by her neighbour Louisa Dunne was found dead in 1967 by her neighbour (Image: Avon and Somerset Police) Her cause of death was determined to be strangulation and asphyxiation, and police said she had also been raped. 

She lived alone at the time of the attack and had originally been married to Teddy Parker, a city alderman, and was on track to become the city’s Lady Mayoress, according to reports from the Bristol Evening Post.

But after he died she eventually remarried to night watchman John Dunne.

However, he too died - leaving Ms Dunne widowed for a second time.

Despite her death more than 50 years ago and a string of appeals from police, detectives said they had no substantial leads that could result in them solving the case - until now.

After the arrest, which happened on Tuesday morning, DI Dave Marchant, of Avon and Somerset Police, said: “This is an extremely significant moment in an appalling and distressing case which has remained unsolved for almost six decades.  

“We’ve identified and spoken to Louisa Dunne’s next of kin to update them on this development and specialist family liaison officers will now be supporting them – to keep them updated on the progress of our investigation but also to ensure they get access to any specialist support they may need."