Stunned family appeal for witnesses as 'fun-loving' woman, 80, fights for life after being 'set on fire'

A shocked family have launched an appeal for witnesses after their 80-year-old relative was left fighting for her life after being found on fire. Brenda Raymond, 80, was discovered alight in a first-floor communal area of her block of flats in Caractacus Cottage View, Watford, on Monday. Officers were called to the scene at 12.47pm, but Ms Raymond was left with life-threatening injuries and is now in a critical condition in hospital. The 'fun-loving and much-loved' woman had, to her stunned family's horror, been doused with a flammable liquid and set on fire. A 33-year-old man from Watford was arrested yesterday on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life. He was released on bail with strict conditions while enquiries continue, Hertfordshire Police said. Brenda Raymond, 80, is in a critical condition after she was found alight in a communal area of a block of flats in Watford The pensioner had been sprayed with a flammable liquid before being set alight as she returned home, detectives believe Tonight, Ms Raymond's family made a public appeal for witnesses, saying: 'Someone out there knows something. They know what happened to Brenda.' They said in a statement: 'Words cannot describe how distressing the past few days have been for us as a family.'Our beautiful, chatty, fun-loving and much-loved Brenda, who loves to keep fit and dancing, has suffered catastrophic injuries in the most devastating of circumstances - circumstances which have left us all in complete shock.'We simply cannot understand why anyone would have wanted to hurt her in this way. Someone out there knows something. They know what happened to Brenda.'We are desperate for answers and are pleading for anyone with information to please come forward. If you know anything at all, no matter how insignificant it may seem, please speak to police or contact Crimestoppers anonymously.'We would ask that our privacy is respected as we continue to navigate our way through this unimaginably difficult time.' Ms Raymond's family described her as a 'fun-loving and much-loved' woman, whose injuries in the circumstances have left them all 'in complete shock' Police took the unusual step of naming the victim in a bid to trace whoever was behind the violence Detectives from Hertfordshire Police's Major Crime Unit said they are continuing to investigate Ms Raymond's attempted murder. They believe a flammable liquid was sprayed on the pensioner before she was set on fire as she returned home. Detectives say an accelerant was also poured through the letterbox of a nearby flat.They took the unusual step of naming the victim in a bid to trace whoever was behind the violence. Police ask that anyone with information or who may have witnessed the incident comes forward - including those who saw anyone acting suspiciously in the area between 10am and 3pm on Monday, anyone wearing a face covering or balaclava, or running from the scene or in or out of nearby woodland. They are also keen to speak to anyone with any footage covering the area around the block of flats at the time, as well as members of the public who heard shouting, screaming or a disturbance before the arrival of emergency services.Finally, they are appealing for anyone who knows anyone who purchased flammable liquid on the day or shortly before the attack.Detective Inspector Adam Bridges, from the Major Crime Unit, said previously: 'This was an appalling and deeply distressing attack on an elderly woman who suffered horrific injuries after being set alight outside her own home.'Our thoughts very much remain with Brenda and her family as we continue to do everything we can to find out what happened and who is responsible.'Her family are understandably distraught and have taken the step of releasing her name and photograph to help jog people's memories around this distressing and highly unusual incident.'Someone out there knows something. You may have witnessed suspicious activity, heard a conversation, noticed unusual behaviour, or captured something on CCTV or dashcam footage without realising its significance.'Please do not assume that what you know is too small or unimportant to tell us about. It could be a seemingly insignificant piece of information that provides investigators with the breakthrough they need.'If you know anything about what happened to Brenda or think you may have information that could assist our inquiries, please come forward. Your information could be crucial in helping us find answers and bring those responsible to justice.'Members of the public are asked to go to the force's dedicated online portal, call 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.