Anxious villagers ask 'why here?'

By Martha Buckley
BBC News

The lane where Abigail Witchalls was attacked is still cordoned off

Police describe the Surrey village of Little Bookham as one of the safest parts of Britain's safest county.

It is a quality the residents appreciate as much as the tree-lined lanes, beautiful houses and quiet sense of community.

Police are normally bothered only by the occasional burglary and the odd bit of criminal damage.

But on Wednesday afternoon the peace was shattered as Abigail Witchalls, 26, was savagely attacked as she pushed her toddler son, Joseph, in his buggy down a bridleway used as a shortcut by schoolchildren.

Within minutes residents heard sirens wailing through the country lanes and helicopters circling overhead. The bridleway was taped off and the area started filling up with police and media.

It's made me start looking over my shoulder, but has not stopped me going out Jacqueline Day

Two days later she is still in a critical condition in hospital and the helicopters are still whirring above Little Bookham.

The lanes around the scene of the crime are mostly deserted, save for police and journalists - residents either fearful of encountering whoever was responsible, or simply hiding from the media glare.

Family safety

Darren Edwards, 30, was out walking his Jack Russell in a private road near the spot where the attack took place. He is concerned for his family's safety - particularly that of his mother and six-year-old daughter.

Abigail Witchalls was attacked in front of her young son

"They were actually in the field when the helicopter first came, so they were only about 300 yards from where it happened," he said.

Villagers are anxious that the attacker is caught without delay.

"We feel we don't know who's living round the corner," said Mary Coburn, 59, who lives in Burnhams Road, which leads to the bridleway.

'Just awful'

Others are determined that their routine will not be broken by what they see as a shocking but isolated event.

Margaret Coulson, 63, was out with her husband and two-year-old granddaughter at the local playground, as normal.

"Everybody always said this place is the safest in the country, but you do find things like this happen nowadays wherever you are. It does make you feel you will keep looking over your shoulder a bit.

Villagers are trying to carry on as usual

"It's very shocking and upsetting, but I think if you let something like this stop what you were normally doing it would be sad."

Jacqueline Day, 28, was also at the playground with her young daughter, who is the same age as Abigail Witchalls' little boy. The two young mothers were at the same post-natal group.

"It's shocking anything like that can happen round here, especially as she was the same age as me and also had a young family. It's just awful," said Ms Day.

"It's made me start looking over my shoulder, but has not stopped me going out. We go either out for a walk with my daughter every day and we're not going to stop doing that."