A “kind-hearted” elderly woman is feared to have been battered to death before her home was set on fire in a south-west London suburb.

The body of Carole Harrison, 73, was found after the blaze at her semi-detached home in Teddington early on Wednesday. A murder investigation was started as she had suffered injuries from a suspected assault. The cause of death has not yet been established.

Detectives have appealed for information from anyone who saw her in Mays Road or spotted anything suspicious in the quiet, tree-lined street.

Mrs Harrison, a former nurse, was a mother of five who had lived alone since the death of her husband some years ago. Her body was found on the first floor after 25 firefighters battled the blaze for more than 90 minutes, having been called at 12.51am.

Neighbour Andrew Connolly, 47, said: “Carole was a normal, everyday person. She spoke to people but she kept herself to herself a lot of the time.

“She would help anyone out and loved the kids. She would always buy them little gifts. She had a kind heart.”

She was said to have been treated in hospital for a mild heart attack recently. Her neighbour for over 40 years, Roy, said Mrs Harrison was due to start Bible study with him this week.

He said: “She had some health issues and got upset when her medication ran out but she had a heart of gold. We all respected her around here.

“She had a panic alarm in case she fell over but hardly ever wore it half the time. I’m so sad.” Another neighbour added that Mrs Harrison had claimed she had recently inherited £1 million. He said: “She offered me £10,000 to go on our family camping trip, but I didn’t believe she had it.”

Floral tributes were left outside the shell of the two-storey house, which remained under police guard last night. Relatives who visited the scene yesterday were too upset to comment.

Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, said Mrs Harrison was “a bit of an eccentric” and in the weeks before her death had been seen allowing an unknown man into her home.

Meanwhile a separate murder inquiry has begun after a woman died following a fire at a flat in Finsbury Park. Kaltoun Saleh, 43, spent six weeks in a specialist burns unit but died on Tuesday.

Four children were also taken to hospital but have since been released.

One neighbour, who asked not to be named, told the Standard the family had moved in several years ago: “They are very good people. I was shocked to hear what happened.”

Abdi Quule, 42, was found at the scene and also treated for burns in hospital. He was charged with attempted murder and is due to appear at the Old Bailey on Thursday next week.

Detectives asked anyone with information about either fire to call 101.