Andrew Webster, who works for the East Midlands Ambulance Service, made the gruesome discovery with a colleague after he was called to the West Hill address by neighbour Peter Smith on the morning of 1st March 2007.

He was giving evidence to a 12 man jury during the ongoing Nottingham Crown Court trial of Smith, who is accused of killing Hilda between 26th February and 1st March 2007.

Mr Webster told the court: "Peter Smith met us at the house and directed us where to go. We went into the house looking through the gap in the door I saw her leg. It had post mortem staining, I peered around the door and saw the patient.

"It was clear there was nothing we could do for her. There was dried blood on the carpet which extended into the kitchen. She had a substantial head wound and a blood clot in her ear, which indicates a fracture to the skull. Blood was spattered on the wall."

Mr Webster then went onto describe the distraught state of Peter Smith: "He was very upset and was on the phone to ambulance control when we arrived. He was shaking and crying.

"I went with him to his house, sat with him and made him a cup of tea. I then tried to get his friends and family to come and sit with him. He was very traumatised."