A 62-year-old man was tonight charged with the murder of a Rawdon woman.

John Butler, of Larkfield Road, Rawdon, will appear before Leeds Magistrates tomorrow morning charged with the murder of Pauline Butler.

Miss Butler, 61, was found dead at the modern terraced home in Cherry Lea Court on Monday morning in what police described as a “domestic-related incident”.

She had suffered stab wounds to her chest and back.

A post-mortem examination yesterday determined Miss Butler had died from blood loss having sustained a “number of stab wounds”.

Her name was released by police yesterday and her family agreed for a photograph of her to be issued.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Snow, of Protective Services Crime, said: “A forensic post-mortem was carried out which established that the woman, who has been identified as Pauline Butler, 61, died of blood loss having sustained a number of stab wounds.

“The family of Miss Butler have released a photograph of her.”

Leeds City Councillor Graham Latty (Con, Guiseley and Rawdon) said on Monday that Cherry Lea Court was a “small, tranquil enclave occupied mostly by retired people”, as he revealed his shock at the death.

He added: “It was originally built for people over 55 and as far as I know that is still the case and most people there are pensioners. It is the last place I’d expect something like this to happen – it’s just not where these things happen.

“I really am flabbergasted. It is a haven and the close-knit community will be in shock.

“As councillors we rarely have to call there. We’ve had the odd planning problem, but mostly we call when we are delivering leaflets in the spring and a summer.”