POLICE probing the murder of a cancer stricken nurse are still puzzling over the motive.

Detectives say they believe Angela Stanyer, who died after suffering burns to 80 per cent of her body following an arson attack on her home in Ogmore Close, Tilehurst, had no enemies.

Mrs Stanyer's 16-year-old daughter Fiona escaped the blaze which happened in the early hours of Thursday.

A murder inquiry has been launched and a 61-year-old Tilehurst man remains in hospital under police guard.

Mrs Stanyer, 52, was a nurse at Battle Hospital and had been battling cancer.

Detective Chief Inspector Dave Lewis said this morning police still did not know why the Stanyers' family home had been attacked.

DCI Lewis said: "The motive is a difficult one. As far as we are aware, the Stanyers did not have any enemies or problems in the community so it has been a little tricky to identify a motive until we speak to any suspects that we might have.

"The Stanyers have not been in a position to speak to us, for understandable reasons. It is very tragic and our hearts go out to the Stanyers."

The blaze broke out just before 3.30am on Thursday while Mrs Stanyer's husband Trevor was at work. Daughter Fiona escaped after clambering on to a flat roof. But Mrs Stanyer had to be pulled from the flames by firefighters.

She died less than 12 hours later.

A 61-year-old man was arrested in Dee Road four hours after the fire and he was still receiving treatment in hospital today.

DCI Lewis, of the major crime unit at Loddon Valley Police Station, said officers would not be able to interview the man until after he had been discharged and that was likely to be several days yet.

Forensics officers have been working at both the Stanyers' gutted home and a house in Dee Road. DCI Lewis said officers were trying to trace a group of four youths seen in Corwen Road, which is connected to Ogmore Close, in the early hours of Thursday.

"I would be grateful for them to come

forward because we would like to identify them and talk to them," he said.

"There were people about in the morning, so we would be grateful for anyone else who was about to come forward."

DCI Lewis said he was confident an accelerant was used. Anyone with information can call the incident room on 08458 505 505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.