RESIDENTS and businesses spoke of their shock and surprise after a murder investigation was launched in Brockenhurst on Monday.

The New Forest village was subjected to a significant police presence on Monday afternoon following the incident at the China Chef premises on Brookley Road.

A man died at the scene and a second man, aged 34, was arrested by police on suspicion of murder.

Yesterday, the takeaway and entrance to the flat above remained cordoned off by police.

One police vehicle was parked opposite in Brookley Road.

While Hampshire Constabulary did not release any further details on the incident, the village remained busy with tourists and locals yesterday.

Apart from China Chef, all businesses in the town were open as normal.

Bruce Sumber, of Village Butchers in Brookley Road, said: "It is fair to say I'm pretty surprised by it.

"Other than the odd break in there is never any trouble around the village.

"We had people in asking about it, but it is all speculation.

"Business did seem a bit quieter first thing for us, but it started to pick up as the day went on and hopefully that continues."

Ellen Baiden, who has lived in Brockenhurst for 14 years, said: "We don't expect it to happen in this village.

"I have lived here for quite a while and known about Brockenhurst for even longer. Something like has not happened before.

"You might expect it in a big city, but not a place like Brockenhurst.

"As far as I'm concerned police did a fantastic job and at times like this it must be really difficult for them."

A member of staff at Grovely Pets in Brookley Road, who asked to remain anonymous, said after the first police car was flagged down at the takeaway, more vehicles appeared shortly afterwards.

They also said an ambulance came to the address and a helicopter was flying overhead.

"It's very rare, you don't ever expect something like this in Brockenhurst," they added.

"I'm a New Forest lad and can't remember there being something like this here before.

"It was an incident that was contained to just the Chinese.

"All the proper Brockenhurst locals were a little bit shocked by it happening in their village."

Another business owner said: "It is shocking and a real shame that something like this has happened.

"The fact everyone was told police were not looking for anybody else reassured a lot of people.

"It is an awful situation, but in the run up to a bank holiday weekend it does not appeared to have stopped people coming to the village.

"The incident is terrible and you really feel for the family for the man who died.

"At this stage nobody knows what happened. It was contained. There were a lot of police in the day and they were still there on Monday night."