Four bodies found in Norfolk home were man, woman and two girls in same family, police reveal

• Callum Fairhurst reports from the scene in Costessey

Four people found dead at a house were a man, a woman and two young girls in the same family, police have confirmed.

They were discovered by officers when they forced entry at a property in Allan Bedford Crescent in Queen's Hills, near Norwich, at about 7am on Friday morning.

The bodies of a man, aged 45, a woman aged 36 and two girls, whose ages are not yet known, were found. Inquiries were under way to formally identify them, said Norfolk Police.

Det Ch Insp Chris Burgess, from the Norfolk and Suffolk major investigation team said a weapon had been recovered from nearby woods but was not believed to be linked to the deaths at this stage.

• The detective leading the investigation answers questions after four bodies were found near Norwich

The man and two children lived at the address but the woman had been visiting, he added.

All four were found with injuries.

He also confirmed that police had had previous contact with those living at the property over a missing persons inquiry, understood to have been before Christmas.

A police cordon has been set up at the scene throughout the day, with a white forensic tent set up outside a semi-detached property.

Mr Burgess added: “Our investigation is in the very early stages and this is clearly a very distressing and tragic incident.

"While we’re following a number of lines of inquiry, at this time we believe this is an isolated incident.

“I understand that news of this incident will be shocking to the local community and as soon as we can we will release more information.”

• At the scene - Rob Setchell, ITV News Anglia

The centre of this investigation is a property on a winding cul-de-sac on the Queen's Hills estate, where understandably there is a sombre mood.

There's a huge police presence here, with the road cordoned off and forensic services teams going about their work.

Passers-by have been coming and going, with some of those I've spoken to this morning describing their shock and sadness at hearing the news.

Many have lived here for 20 years, and they have never seen anything like this.

Police forensic teams have been at the scene since early on Friday and roads around the estate have been cordoned off with tape, so that officers can carry out their investigation.

Scene-of-crime officers in white outfits have been coming and going into the house and an officer has been seen searching a garage.

One person who lives on the estate said he was "shocked, surprised", adding: "Things like this don't happen on this estate.

"I've lived up here 13 years, you very rarely see a police officer up here, let alone anything like this, so very very shocked and saddened."

Neighbour Jane Scrafton said she was "shocked" to hear the news that four people had been found dead.

"I saw all the police coming around this morning, and the ambulance and I thought that there was something going on. I thought it was quite serious for the amount of police," she said.

• Drone footage shows police on the scene

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