Llantwit Fardre: Murder investigation after woman's body found

A murder investigation is under way after the body of a woman was found in a house in south Wales.

Police were called to the property on St Annes Drive in Llantwit Fardre, near Pontypridd, at 14:45 GMT on Sunday.

The woman has yet to be named and no-one has been arrested.

Det Supt Darren George said: "This incident has understandably caused significant concern locally and we are working hard to identify who was responsible for this murder."

South Wales Police has set up an incident room in Cardiff and a large cordon is in place around the area.

Det Supt George added: "Officers are carrying out door-to-door inquiries across the village.

"My appeal is for anybody who thinks they may have information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to contact us - what they tell us could be extremely valuable to the investigation."

A neighbour told BBC Wales that officers had been searching cars in the area on Sunday night and one vehicle was seen being taken away by police on Monday morning.

Dozens of police officers have descended on the quiet housing estate.

Forensic officers are at a large detached property in a small cul-de-sac on St Annes Drive but police have taped off a number of sites in the area.  

People living here say they haven't been told anything official from the police.

Jamie Price, who lives nearby, said: "All the street was full of police and dogs turned up this morning.

"This road is busy today. There's a lot of people nosing around. Down here is normally really quiet."

Councillor Sam Trask, who represents the Llantwit Fardre ward on Rhondda Cynon Taf council, said people would be understandably concerned.

He said: "It is worrying. People are stunned today I think and are asking a lot of questions, and rightfully so.

"This is normally a very, very quiet neighbourhood. Crime rates are very, very low. In Llantwit Fardre, this sort of thing just doesn't happen."

Mr Trask said his own children had asked him if there's someone out there who they should be worried about, who might be out there to hurt them, and he could completely understand their point of view.

"It is a worry that no-one has been arrested yet," he said.

Mr Trask said he had been working to support the victim's family, and urged people to avoid speculating around the circumstances of her death.

"The family concerned are long-time friends of mine for over 20 years".

"I was concerned for their welfare, so I was able to get in contact with a number of them. At their behest, I went to investigate and I spoke with the police commander on site there.

"There was a crime scene investigation team there, people in hazmat suits. Seeing that made me feel incredibly worried for what might be going on behind the door of the house."