Police were today questioning a man over the suspected murder of a woman whose body was found in a woodland near Crawley.

Officers were called to the scene, near the Gatwick Worth Hotel off Turners Hill Road in Copthorne, near Crawley, at 10am on Sunday.

A spokesman said early indications were that Una Whitney, 38, of Pound Hill Parade, Crawley, had suffered head injuries.

A 37-year-old Crawley man was arrested in the town on Sunday and was being questioned by detectives today.

Miss Whitney's next of kin have been informed.

Barry Markham, coroner's officer for the area, said: "She did suffer head injuries but what killed her is not yet known."

A post-mortem examination has been carried out and the pathologist is awaiting test results before completing his report.

Police have launched a murder inquiry, codenamed Operation Siskin.

Detective Superintendent Martin Cheesman, who is leading the inquiry, said: "We are currently pursuing a number of strong lines of inquiry. We do not believe this to be a stranger attack and it seems that the victim may have known her attacker.

"We would like to hear from anyone who was in the area, perhaps at the Gatwick Worth Hotel, overnight who thinks they have information that could help us - maybe they heard or saw something they think could be relevant."