A man has been charged with murder after police found the body of a woman with severe head trauma and an axe lying next to her in a home in Canberra’s south.

Officers were called to the townhouse on Duggan Street just after 4:30pm on Saturday following reports of a disturbance, and forced their way into the home on arrival.

They found the body of a 28-year-old woman on the floor of the laundry, at the rear of the home.

An axe was found lying next to her, they said.

A 40-year-old man found at the scene was arrested and taken to the city watch house.

Forensics officers and detectives worked through the night, trying to piece together what happened at the home, seizing a number of items as evidence.

The man remains in custody and will appear in ACT Magistrates Court on Monday.