The 'abject terror' Ann Widdecombe must have endured in her final minutes has troubled her family more than anything in the wake of her brutal murder.

Police are today understood to be investigating the circumstances surrounding Ann Widdecombe's death.

Widdecombe appeared on Talk radio on Wednesday

Police are investigating following the former Tory minister and Strictly contestant’s death on Friday

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LIVE UDPATES: Police have launched a manhunt following the death of former MP and MEP Ann Widdecombe after she was found dead at her Devon home.

LIVE UPDATES: Police have launched a manhunt following the death of former MP and MEP Ann Widdecombe after she was found dead at her Devon home.

Police have launched a murder investigation into the death of Ann Widdecombe, a former member of Parliament

British interior minister Shabana Mahmood said the circumstances of the death “are extremely distressing.”

Police are not treating the incident as terrorism after the Reform spokeswoman was reportedly found covered in blood with serious head injuries at her home

The family of Ann Widdecombe spoke on Friday night of their shock at her brutal murder.

Officers were called to Widdecombe's home shortly after midday on Thursday, where she was found dead

A murder investigation has been launched following the shocking death of 78-year-old Ann Widdecombe

The ex-Tory minister is believed to have been attacked at her remote bungalow in Haytor, on Dartmoor, at around 12.30pm on Wednesday.

A 26-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murdering the former MP has been released from custody

Devon police working on assumption the former politician was attacked on Wednesday afternoon

Police release murder suspect and say they believe Ms Widdecombe was killed on Wednesday afternoon, as her last known hours become clearer

The mystery of the murder of Ann Widdecombe continues as police try to piece together her movements on the final day of her life - here is the timeline of the events as detectives…

Former Tory minister Widdecombe is believed to have died at around 12.30pm on Wednesday, but wasn't discovered at her Devon home until nearly the same time the following day

Former cabinet minister Ann Widdecombe was engaged in conversation with a researcher on Channel 5's Matt Alwright show when her messages suddenly stopped without explanation.

Police believe Ms Widdecombe was attacked just minutes after she sent her last text to staff at Channel 5