Prosecutor Peter Joyce told a Nottingham Crown Court jury that Hilda (71) was bludgeoned in the back of her head with the hammer and screwdriver as she sat in the front room of her West Hill home.

Peter Smith (44), who lived next door to Hilda, is accused of murdering her some time between the 26th February and 1st March last year as part of a plan to inherit thousands of pounds from Hilda to solve his financial problems.

It was claimed Smith owed more than £35,000 in credit card and bank loans and had even attempted to prostitute himself to a male friend for £800 a week.

A post-mortem examination showed Hilda suffered a significant number of injuries.

The jury was told that Hilda, who lived alone following the death of her husband, was found slumped against a wall and died between 15 and 24 hours later after she initially survived the beating.

Opening the prosecution case, Mr Joyce said: "The pattern of injuries and tests show she remained alive for a number of hours, in other words she had been left to die.

"She was attacked from behind as she sat facing her fire place she was then moved to the floor and strangled.

"Blood had got splattered all over the floors, walls and ceiling. She was murdered by Peter Smith to solve his financial difficulties by him inheriting her house, money and possessions."

Days after the body was discovered, Smith presented police with a will signed by Hilda Owen giving him her house and possessions following her death.

But Mr Joyce told the court the will was entirely written in Smith's hand.

A screwdriver with Hilda's blood and DNA was recovered from the scene but the hammer was never found.

Smith, who used to work for the Department of Work and Pensions, was initially arrested shortly after the murder and denies the charge.

The trial continues.