AN undertaker has been arrested on suspicion of murdering his wife, former Blackheath school teacher Alethea Taylor, who went missing in January.

John Taylor, who raised the alarm when the 63-year-old pianist vanished from their Herefordshire home, is being questioned by West Mercia detectives.

Her disappearance on January 19 sparked a major police search of her home village of Orleton, where she helped run her husband’s funeral services business.

Scores of villagers, mountain rescue, tracker dogs and the Severn Area Rescue Association combed the surrounding countryside and water courses.

Detectives were concerned about the mental state of the former Blackheath Primary School teacher, when it was suggested that she had become forgetful and had taken to wandering.

Mr Taylor, who is in his 60s and runs John Taylor Funeral Services, told police he had last seen his wife at about 8.30am when he left home for work. There was no sign of her when he returned at 4pm.

But despite the painstaking search over many days, no body or evidence of her disappearance was found.

Police have confirmed that a man in his 60s was arrested shortly after 7am on Tuesday on suspicion of Mrs Taylor’s murder.

A 12 hour extension was granted yesterday morning for further questioning and an application to hold him for a further 36 hours was being made to a judge yesterday afternoon.

Mrs Taylor, described by villagers as “a pleasant and jolly person” taught at Blackheath primary for about 40 years.

Her former colleague and friend Gail Walder said the couple lived in Powke Lane, next door but one to the school, and Mrs Taylor continued to commute daily after moving to their rural retreat prior to her retirement.

“I don’t think she had any children - she devoted her life to teaching,” said Mrs Walder.

She added: “I am gutted to hear the news because I always held out hope they would find her. To think she is no longer with us and may have met a violent end is dreadful.”

At the time of her disappearance Blackheath Primary School headteacher Lesley King said: “She was an experienced year six teacher who was extremely popular with both children and parents. She took early retirement a number of years ago.”