POLICE have arrested a 51-year-old man in Dorchester on suspicion of murder after a woman’s death in Worcester.

A manhunt began after 47-year-old Jacqueline Harrison was found dead and ended in the county town on Sunday.

Officers from West Mercia Police had earlier travelled to search in Weymouth over the weekend as part of their murder probe.

The development came after the police said they were looking for Worcester man William Cummins in connection with the inquiry. A West Mercia Police spokesman said: “Police searching for wanted man William Cummins, in connection with the death of Jacqueline Harrison, have arrested a man in Dorchester.

“The 51-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder.

“Jacqueline, aged 47, was found dead at her flat in Gresham Road, Worcester, on Thursday April 12.

“A post mortem examination the following day showed that she had suffered significant assault injuries.”

Dorset Police assisted officers from the West Mercia force who were in the area searching for Mr Cummins.

West Mercia Police believed Mr Cummins may have travelled to Weymouth area as he had visited before to search for a family member.

They told members of the public not to approach him but to call 999 immediately. DI Gerry Smith, from West Mercia’s Operation Mallard incident room, said that they knew that Mr Cummins had been in the Kent and Dorset areas recently when he appealed for help from the public.

Dorset Police confirmed that officers from Weymouth were assisting West Mercia Police with the enquiry.

Dorchester Mayor Tess James said: “It’s good that this was brought to a conclusion so quickly.

“The police should really be congratulated on working so effectively with their colleagues in the Midlands.

“They have done a good job.”

Mr Cummins was known to drift around and sleep rough, particularly around Worcester racecourse and cathedral.

Angie Barnes, of the New Soul Food Kitchen in Weymouth, which helps homeless people, said: “It is quite usual for people to come drifting through from other parts of the country, but normally it’s because they are victims of something.”

She added: “It can be difficult because we do not get to know a lot about the guys unless they engage with us for help.

“If they just come for food and drink then we just get a name, and there’s no way of telling if it’s genuine.

Detectives want to speak to anyone who saw or spoke to Ms Harrison in the last week of March or the first week of April.