Police have started a murder inquiry after a 28-year-old mother was found dead at a house in Brighouse.

Cherie Bandig was declared dead after police and paramedics were called to the house in Smith House Avenue.

A post-mortem examination failed to ascertain the cause of her death and further tests are being carried out.

A 33-year-old man, who lives at the house where she was found, has been arrested and was today being questioned by murder squad detectives.

Police are appealing for help from the public to establish Miss Bandig's movements in the days before her death.

Detective Superintendent Phil Sedgwick, of West Yorkshire Police's Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, who is leading the investigation, urged anyone with information to contact them.

He said: "We are hoping to build up a picture of what Cherie's movements were in the last few days and would like anyone who can help to come forward."

Det Supt Sedgwick said police and paramedics were called to the house at 7.30pm on Friday and Miss Bandig, who has a young daughter, was pronounced dead at the scene.

He said a forensic post-mortem examination was carried out by a Home Office pathologist on Saturday but the exact cause of death was still to be ascertained. Further tests are under way to establish how she died.

Det Supt Sedgwick confirmed a 33-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of murder and was being questioned at Halifax police station.

An incident room has been set up at Halifax and the investigation team can be contacted there on (01422) 337100.

Det Supt Sedgwick said he was keen to hear from anyone who knew Miss Bandig, or who had seen her recently or had recent dealings with her, or had any information which could help the inquiry.

Yesterday, the front door of the terraced house where she was found was boarded up. The curtains were drawn but a St George's flag was in the bedroom window.

A neighbour on the estate said the dead woman and the man who lived at the house were a couple.

But he said the victim was unhappy in the relationship.

He said: "She had some problems and things did not seem right for her. She has a daughter, aged about nine or ten, but I don't know who is looking after her now."

He added: "I didn't hear anything untoward on the Friday night. The first I knew something was wrong was when all the police vans turned up."