Silence for murdered grandmother

Mrs Harding had been a turnstile operator at the Goldstone Ground

A minute's silence was held before Brighton and Hove Albion's game on Saturday in memory of a club employee who was found murdered.

The body of Marie Harding was found by a dog walker on Wednesday afternoon on a footpath in Southwick, near Hove.

Sussex Police said the grandmother had been stabbed once in the neck.

Mrs Harding, 73, worked part-time at the club's Queen's Road ticket office. The silence preceded the side's match against QPR at Withdean.

She was great fun and had a very positive outlook on life and was always smiling Brighton and Hove Albion FC

Players wore black armbands during the match.

The family of Mrs Harding are all avid supporters of the club - her daughter works full-time in the ticket office, while her two grandchildren have connections to the club's junior teams.

Police said Mrs Harding's bag and purse were found near her body.

Extra police patrols have been in place around the Highdown Close area of Southwick since the discovery of Mrs Harding's body.

More than 50 officers have been assigned to hunt the killer with a forensic search of the area and house to house inquiries conducted.

The murder weapon has not yet been found.

In a statement, Brighton and Hove Albion FC said Mrs Harding had been a turnstile operator at the Goldstone Ground for many years and since 1997 worked part-time in the Queens Road ticket office.

"She had a great love for the club and worked extremely hard processing ticket applications.

"She was great fun and had a very positive outlook on life and was always smiling," the statement said.