A murder trial jury has heard that an elderly widow who was stabbed to death and then had her heart removed was an independent woman with a keen and lively mind, a court heard.

Frail Mabel Leyshon, 90, was butchered by an intruder at her bungalow on Anglesey, north Wales, last November.

Forensic officers searched the house

Her heart was cut out and wrapped in newspaper before being placed in a saucepan on top of a silver platter next to her body.

It was claimed the saucepan was filled with blood which was then drunk by the murderer in what prosecutors at Mold Crown Court called a "macarbre ritual".

A 17-year-old art student - who prosecutors claim was "obsessed" by vampires - is accused of killing the pensioner in a bid to achieve immortality.

He denies the charge and claims he had never set foot in the pensioner's home.

Housework

Mrs Leyshon's cousin, Beatrice Williams, told the jury on Thursday how the pensioner was physically weak but led a relatively independent and routine life.

She told how Mrs Leyshon, a widow for 30 years, would rise at 0700 BST and spend the morning doing most of her own housework.

In the afternoon she would occasionally see friends or speak on the telephone but would usually watch television alone.

She would often stay up to around 2100 BST as she was interested in current affairs and enjoyed watching the evening and late night news.

Lipstick

Asked if Mrs Leyshon had a "keen and lively" mind, Mrs Williams replied: "Oh yes."

She added that the pensioner took care of her appearance, saying: "The first thing she would do in the mornings was to put lipstick on and she would like to have her hair done regularly."

The jury also heard how Mrs Leyshon left teddy bears around the house to jog her memory.

She would, for instance, put one on the immersion heater, for example, to remind her to switch it off.

Obsession

The trial continues and is expected to last at least two weeks.

Earlier in the trial, the court heard allegations that the student accused of the killing had an obsession with vampires and immortality.

It was heard that Mrs Leyshon died from multiple stabbed wounds and her chest had been "ripped open".

Pokers were found at her feet in the shape of a cross, the jury was told.

Her heart had been removed, wrapped in newspaper and placed in a saucepan on a silver platter next to her body.

Her blood had been drunk from the saucepan in a "macabre ritual", it was said.