Florence Seccombe, who was in her 70s, died from a single stab wound

But the Plymouth City Council has said Florence Seccombe, who was in her 70s, had never complained about intimidation and had lived a nomadic lifestyle for sometime.

Ms Seccombe died after being stabbed in the neck at Plymouth's Bretonside Bus Station at about 0600 BST on Saturday.

Her friends and neighbours say she was afraid to return to her home in the city's Prince Rock area because she had been victimised by a local gang and had instead been sleeping rough at the bus station.

It is a very callous and calculated incident Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Boulting

Neighbour Ida Stoneman, 82, said: "The lads around here were constantly bothering her.

"They would smash her windows and call her names. They really picked on her.

"She was too scared to stay in that flat."

Chief Superintendent John Isaac said on Monday her home on Harvey Avenue was run-down and boarded up.

"All of that indicates some trauma in her life. It would be wrong to suggest what those problems might be," he said.

'Chaotic lifestyle'

In a statement Plymouth City Council described her death as "tragic".

The authority says she was known to social services and had a long history of living a "somewhat chaotic and nomadic lifestyle".

The Council says she had never complained to the council about any intimidation and had not asked to be moved from her Prince Rock home.

The authority says it will work with the police to tackle any anti-social behaviour in the Prince Rock area.

The statement said the council would also be reviewing its files to see if anything else could have been done to help her.

CCTV footage around the bus station is being reviewed and officers are asking for anyone with information to come forward.

Her body was found next to a cream-coloured duvet she had used for several months as she slept at the bus depot.

Motiveless attack

There is no evidence she was robbed or beaten up.

Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Boulting, said: "It is also a very callous and calculated incident which we are dealing with in a very serious manner."

The bus station was sealed off over the weekend while forensic investigations were carried out.

Police are still searching for the murder weapon, thought to be a sharp, bladed instrument.

Part of Bretonside Bus Station remains cordoned off while further investigations take place.

Officers are appealing for local residents and businesses with CCTV footage of the area to come forward.

The bus station's own CCTV system is in "desperate need of an overhaul and upgrade", Mr Isaac said.

Florence Seccombe is described as a frail five-feet tall woman in her 70s. She was wearing a black hooded coat, a black knee-length skirt, knee-length socks, a red roll-neck jumper and a blue and purple long-sleeved sweatshirt.

Police are appealing for anyone who was in Bretonside Bus Station between 2000 BST on 17 October and 0600 BST on 18 October to come forward.