A British pensioner has been found dead, tied up under her bed in her home in St Lucia in what police believe to have been a murder.

The body of Diana Theodore, 72, was found on Saturday morning in a pool of blood alongside the body of her pet dog. Police in Choiseul, St Lucia, have opened a murder investigation after she was found with an injury to her head.

Theodore, a mother of one, left the UK for the island more than 30 years ago and has been described as a ‘community activist’. In a statement, the Saint Lucia National Trust said: “Today we heard the very sad news of the untimely loss of our long-term member and former councillor and friend of many of our members.”

The trust called Theodore a “passionate and vocal advocate for Saint Lucia’s natural and cultural heritage”, adding that she was “a long-term member of the trust who also served on council and regularly contributed her ideas, concerns and advice in areas of conservation and community interest”.

A neighbour described Theodore as “a very nice person. Every time you see her, she would be smiling” and said the attack had left the community in shock. “She is such a nice lady and did not deserve this at all.”

Theodore’s body was found when a burglary was reported at her home after she was reported missing by a friend that she lived with. Speaking to the media outlet Loop News, a neighbour said Theodore’s friend “came to us and said he had not seen her, so we all went in search of her but did not find her. It is not like her not to be seen in this small village. She was friendly and has been living in Morne Sion for many years now”.

Supt Luke Defraitus of the major crime unit, told 88.5 Soufrière FM radio on Saturday: “Police responded to an initial call of a burglary. Upon their arrival the body of the owner of the premises was found bound and gagged within the premises.”

Theodore is survived by her daughter, a university lecturer, who lives in the UK.