Residents of Springfield Drive in the Lansdowne Estate in Calne have been left reeling following the confirmation of a murder there.
Police were called to a home in Springfield Drive at 3.15pm yesterday by the ambulance service following the discovery of the body of a teenage girl there.
There was soon a heavy police presence in the area and the section of the road was cordoned off. Activity by police and forensics units continued late into the evening and the cordon and police remain at the scene today.
One resident told Calne News: "you just don't expect something like this to happen on your own doorstep, I couldn't believe it when I came home from work to see so many emergency vehicles. I don't know the family but my heart goes out to them"
Another neighbour said: "it is so shocking, one minute it was peaceful and the next there were so many blue lights up here, it was difficult to explain to my kids what was going on. One police man ran up behind my house at one point and looked over the back fence, to have this literally on the doorstep seems surreal. My sympathies are with the family"
Police have arrested a 17-year-old male in connection with the murder, it is believed he was arrested in the Derry Hill area.
The age of the victim remains unclear at this stage.
In a statement released today the police said:
'Following initial enquiries, a 17-year-old male was arrested in the Chippenham area on suspicion of murder yesterday afternoon. He remains in custody at this time.'
Superintendent Conway Duncan said: "The thoughts of everyone at Wiltshire Police are with the family of the victim at what must be a devastating time for them.
"They are receiving support from specially trained officers and we will continue to do everything we can to help them come to terms with what has happened.
"This investigation is still in its early stages but I would like to reassure the local community that a robust police response was launched yesterday and will continue in the days to come."
