A transexual has been found strangled at a home in Thornton Heath.

It is believed Kellie Telesford, whose body was found at a house in Leander Road, had been living as a woman for several years.

She had previously been known as Kayiode Dexter Telesford.

Officers forced their way into the house where they found the 40-year-old's body.

A postmortem examination carried out yesterday afternoon gave Mrs Telesford's cause of death as strangulation.

Police are treating the death as suspicious and it is being investigated by officers from the Homicide and Serious Crime Command.

One elderly neighbour said: "This has made me quite frightened. It's really shocking; especially as this road is so quiet and nice. I didn't know the woman."

Another local man said: "I heard the police breaking in through the door the other day but I didn't know why. Now I've heard what's happened, it's made me feel very uneasy.

"There's been a lot of police activity round here. I can't believe something like that has happened."

An incident room has been set up in Sutton led by Detective Chief Inspector Cliff Lyons.

Police are keen to hear from anyone who saw Mrs Telesford between November 15 and 21.

Anyone with information should call 020 8721 4205 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.