Winsford shooting: Woman dead and man in custody

A murder inquiry is under way after a woman was shot dead in Somerset.

The woman in her 50s was found injured outside a home in the Exmoor village of Winsford on Saturday. She was treated at the scene but later died.

A 67-year-old man was found in an outbuilding with shotgun injuries at about 14:30 GMT and was airlifted to hospital in Devon.

Avon and Somerset Police said the man was in a critical but stable condition and he remains in custody.

A post-mortem examination has been carried out on the woman and the cause of death has been confirmed as shotgun injuries. Formal identification has not yet taken place.

Forensic inquiries

A second woman was found nearby uninjured and was taken to a place of safety. She was being treated as a key witness, police said.

Det Supt Julie Mackay, of the Major Crime Investigation Team said: "Due to prior police contact with those involved, a mandatory referral has been made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct. "

She added: "It would be inappropriate for us to go into further details while the referral is being considered."

Family liaison officers have been sent to support the next of kin.

The area remains cordoned off so further forensic inquiries and searches can take place over the next few days.