TWO men have been arrested as part of a murder investigation following the death of a pensioner in Droitwich.

West Mercia Police confirmed yesterday that a 32-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of murder and was “helping police with enquiries”.

While a 55 year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, police said.

The men, from Droitwich and Tibberton, are both in custody. The arrests follow the murder of 80-year-old Desmond Wooding in Vines Lane.

Mr Wooding, who was 80 and lived alone, was found dead at his home at 8.20am on Monday, June 24.

On June 25 police released a CCTV image of a man seen in the area at the time, with an appeal for anyone who recognised him to get in touch.

On June 27, at a media briefing on the investigation, Superintendent Damian Pettit said: “This is an 80-year-old man, who has survived eight decades of life in peaceful harmony, who has been brutally attacked in his home where he should feel safest.”

He said Mr Wooding had last been seen alive early on Sunday evening, near to his house.

Police attended his home on the Monday morning after a neighbour called to say they were worried about Mr Wooding after noticing that lights had been left on in his home for some time.

Mr Wooding was well known for riding his mobility scooter around Droitwich and Supt Pettit said the pensioner had been going about his normal business the day before he was found dead.

“He had been out and about in Droitwich,” said Supt Pettit. “He was quite a large character in terms of personality – there are a lot of people in our community that will know Desmond and will recognise him.”