A man has been charged with the murder of 85-year-old Rosina (Rose) Coleman in Romford, on Tuesday, May 15.

Paul Prause, 65, who lives in Romford, was charged last night, Saturday, May 19.

He has been remanded in custody and will appear at Redbridge Magistrates’ Court tomorrow, Monday, May 21.

Mrs Coleman, who lived alone, was found dead in her home in Ashmour Gardens. A murder investigation was launched the next day.

A post-mortem examination determined the cause of death to be blunt force trauma to the head and neck.

An 83-year-old friend of Mrs Coleman told the Recorder: “She was a seamstress or a presser.

“She still made all her own clothes, very incredible person she used to do all my own ironing. We were very very good friends.

“I lost my wife five months ago, she lost her husband about 11 years ago.

“[Rosina’s husband] did various things for a living. He did carpentry, he was always carrying around bits of wood.

“They were a very close couple.”