THE step-son of Whitefield woman Linda Southwood has been arrested in connection with her death.

In a new development, 37-year-old Darren Southwood was quizzed by detectives on Wednesday and bailed to return to Bury police station on December 20.

His Greek girlfriend, Arkadia Alawanoo, is also expected to be arrested and interviewed if and when she travels to England.

An inquest into Mrs Southwood's death in August revealed she was violently killed in January.

Forensic tests and pathological reports proved the 52-year-old mother-of-two's body was moved after she had died.

Her neck had been placed over the rim of a plastic wastepaper bin.

Only three other people were in the house in Pinfold Lane at the time -- her husband Albert Southwood, who was the main suspect during initial police investigations, Darren Southwood and Alawanoo. No action was taken against Albert Southwood after the Crown Prosecution Service felt there was not enough evidence to prosecute the 62-year-old.

Detective Inspector Jane Antrobus confirmed yesterday that Darren Southwood was arrested after he had returned from Greece.

She said: "The arrest follows a review of existing and new evidence."

The inquest was told the woman's husband was arrested and interviewed over two days before being released without charge.

He told detectives his wife had rejected his amorous advances the night before her death and the couple slept in separate rooms.

Darren Southwood and his girlfriend told police they heard a noise around 1am on January 28 but didn't think it was unusual.

When her husband got up the next morning, he found Mrs Southwood's body over the bin.

A paramedic told the inquest Mrs Southwood had been dead for more than an hour before she was discovered.

Police revealed there was no forced entry and all doors were locked.

Two Home Office pathologists agreed that an injury to Mrs Southwood's throat was caused after her death while other bruising and abrasions were caused before she died.