A TEEN boy is today being questioned by murder cops after a leading doctor was killed in his own home.

Dr Barry Hounsome, 54, was found dead in the house he shared with his academic wife in Gosport, Hants.

The schoolboy suspect, 16, was arrested after police were called to the couple's home on Monday night.

The £200,000 property today remains taped off as stunned neighbours reacted to the shocking suspected murder.

One said: "It's such a shame what's happened, the husband and wife were very lovely people."

Dr Hounsome, who has worked at the University of Southampton and Bangor University, lectured in health science and has conducted studies into diseases including Parkinson's.

His wife Natalia, who neighbours in the quiet road said is German, is a lecturer in health economics who has worked at several universities in the UK.

Detectives today removed a grey Skoda Octavia car from the home as forensics experts comb through the crime scene.

Photographs of the property show the back patio door window had been smashed.

Walter Knight, a neighbour and friend of Dr Hounsome, today said he has been left devastated by his death.

The retiree said: "They were very nice people, they even got me a Christmas card every year.

“I didn’t know what they did for a living but they were very friendly, they kept themselves to themselves.

“They were very quiet, but when you did speak to them you could tell they were very intelligent people."

Another neighbour in his 50s, who did not wish to be named, said he is "heartbroken" after losing his "friend".

He said: “It’s heartbreaking you know, he wasn’t just a neighbour, he was a friend - him and his wife.

“They were such lovely and kind people who could never hurt a soul, I just don’t know how something like this could happen.

“I’m truly devastated by it all.

“Natalia is not from the UK and all of her family are abroad, I feel so bad for her.

“To lose a husband is such a tragic thing to have happened."

David Orchard, 67, who lives around the corner from the white bungalow, said a family had lived at the address for around 15 years.

He said: "They’re quiet, they keep themselves to themselves. I think they’ve been there for 15 years."

His wife Susan, 58, added: "It’s dreadful, we’ve lived here for 30 years and it’s the first time anything like this has happened around here."

The University of Southampton confirmed Dr Hounsome was last employed in 2014.

It is understood he carried out work at the Faculty of Health Sciences at Southampton General Hospital, Hants, during his time at the university.

A spokesman from the university added: "As this is a matter of ongoing police investigation, the university is unable to comment at this stage."

Hampshire Constabulary spokeswoman Nikki Holt said: "We’re investigating the death of a man in Southcroft Road, Gosport.

"Next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers. Formal identification procedures are ongoing.

"A 16-year-old boy, from Gosport, has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is currently in custody.

"There will be a lot of police activity in the area as our investigations into the exact circumstances of the death continue.

"We understand there will be concern among residents within the neighbourhood but we would like to reassure them that at this stage this is being treated as an isolated incident."