Neighbours have revealed the elderly couple were attacked by a burglar who broke into their semi-detached property.

The woman who died has been named locally as Freda Walker while her husband Kenneth used to sit on Shirebrook Town Council, representing the Shirebrook Langwith Ward.

Mr Walker, a retired mining safety inspector who celebrated his 88th birthday on Thursday (13/1), remains in intensive care with life-threatening injuries.

Residents and friends of the couple expressed shock today (Sun).

A dog walker, who passes through Station Road every Sunday morning, was a friend of the couple.

He said: "This is very quiet area. I was an acquaintance of Kenneth and Freda. They were very nice people.

"Kenneth used to be a local councillor heavily involved in the area.

“A long time ago, he was the Mayor of Bolsover or Chesterfield I think, one of the two.

"They were always a nice couple and ready to speak to you. I spoke to Mrs Walker regularly as I walk the dog through here - more so in the summer.

"Yesterday, I had been fishing all day and came home and heard what had happened and my partner told me that there had been an attack in their house.

"Then I found out Ken is critical in hospital. It is horrible to hear.

"I just knew them as an inviting and lovely couple. I always used to wave at them as I walked by."

Police have cordoned off the couple's home which backs onto several allotments. An alleyway by the side of the house has also been sealed off.

Filmed 16th Jan 2022.