French police investigate British woman's death

Vivian Hart - a former councillor for the Aude village of Trausse, where she had lived for 40 years - was found at her home by her cleaning lady. She had suffered wounds to her face, but died of a cardiac arrest shortly after emergency services arrived.

Police are examining the death because of the nature of the facial injuries which may have been caused by a knife, it has been reported.

The mayor of Trausse, Jean-François Saïsset, said she was someone who was, “involved in the activities of the library and in a friendly network”. She used to give free English lessons in her village.

She had been town councillor from 2001 to 2008 and she was known by a lot of villagers. She also studied at Queen’s College in London and at the Sorbonne, where she was a member of the association Sorbonne pour l’Organisation des Nations Unies.