Grandma was 'first to offer a helping hand'

A woman whose death sparked a murder investigation was always "the first to offer a helping hand," her family have said.

Emergency services attended Carlisle's Whinlatter Way at about 23:20 BST on Sunday to a report of a sudden death.

Cumbria Police has named the dead woman as Susan Watson, 61, and she has been described as someone who was "never happier than when she had the people she loved around her".

A man in his 60s has been released on bail after being arrested on suspicion of her murder.

Officers previously asked people to "refrain from speculation whilst the investigation is ongoing".

Her family said she was a "much-loved" sister, mam, grandma and friend.

"She absolutely adored being a grandma and treasured every moment she spent with her grandchildren," they said.

"Helping people was simply who Susan was. She always put other people before herself and was the first to offer a helping hand, whether it was family, friends, neighbours or complete strangers.

"She never expected anything in return and never wanted recognition.

"She just believed that if someone needed help, you helped them."

A long-time volunteer with the Samaritans - she helped out at one of its shops while also "offering a listening ear to anyone who needed someone to talk to" in the evenings at Carlisle railway station.

"Looking after other people came naturally to her," her family said of the foot practitioner.

"She often went far beyond what anyone would expect, picking up shopping for people who couldn't get out, checking in on those who were struggling, and making sure nobody felt alone or forgotten.

"If someone was going through a difficult time, she would open her home and do whatever she could to help."

The family also said if someone had nowhere to go at Christmas, "there was always a place at her table".

On Wednesday, a police spokesperson said detectives were working to establish the full circumstances surrounding her death and that enquiries remained ongoing.

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