British woman found killed at home in France

A British woman was found beaten to death at her home in southwestern France, a prosecutor said on Wednesday.

A friend found the 65-year-old woman lying near her vehicle with five deep wounds caused by a blunt object at her home in the village of Tremolat in the Dordogne on Tuesday evening, state prosecutor Sylvie Martins Guedes said in a statement.

Authorities have opened a murder investigation, she said.

"Her wounds indicated a particularly violent attack and their locations showed an intention to kill," the statement added.

"Investigations are underway to identify and detain the perpetrator of this crime."

The statement said the woman had lived in the Dordogne department for several years.