A care home director killed at her “dream home” in Weybridge on Saturday has been described by neighbours as “so lovely and really helpful”.

Sonita Nijhawan, 38, was discovered in her new-build mansion in Crossfield Place in St George’s Hill on Saturday morning, alongside a 46-year-old man who was suffering “serious” injuries.

She died of head and neck injuries, a post-mortem examination found. The man remains under arrest in hospital, where he is in a serious but stable condition, Surrey Police said.

This morning neighbours paid tribute to Mrs Nijhawan, who was thought to have moved into the home, in Crossfield Place, just a week ago, after staying with her parents in Hampton.

One said: “We were doing our house up at the same time, they had moved in about a week ago. We talked about how it’s going on, what she’s been up to.

“They were a lovely couple. He was a calm, cool and educated man. It was really shocking.

“We saw them all the night before. He gave us a big wave and a smile.

“She worked as a director of nursing homes, they did development business.

“This was her dream home she was building. She was so lovely and really helpful and gave us advice for our house.

“They had a little boy, he was obviously really upset. It’s such a quiet and peaceful, neighbourly road, it’s so strange this would happen here.”

Another neighbour said: “It’s just a great shock, you don’t really expect it in a quiet street. They seemed like a lovely couple that were renovating their property with a young child.

“I’m sure we would’ve got to know them, we haven’t had that unfortunately.”

Detective chief inspector Jason Taylor said: “At this time I believe this to be an isolated incident, with no wider threat to the local community.”

“This is a tragic incident and we will do all we can to support the woman's family.”

Mrs Nijhawan is believed to have been director of elderly care homes owned by SPC Care Homes.

Crossfield Place is in the St George's Hill area of Weybridge, and is near the luxury, 964-acre St George's Hill estate.