Police probe husband's 'murder-suicide'

Detectives are continuing their investigations today after a man apparently stabbed his wife to death before throwing himself in front of a train.

The body of the woman, named locally as Ann Rees, was discovered when an ambulance was called to a quiet residential street in Woodley, Berkshire, just before 1.50pm yesterday.

Less than 10 minutes later, paramedics attended Twyford station, four miles away, where her husband Steven was found dead.

The semi-detached house in Malone Road, opposite a children's play area, remained cordoned off last night. All the windows at the front of the house were open, with trophies visible in an upstairs room.

Video: Possible muder-suicide

Neighbours said the couple and their daughter, thought to attend a local secondary school, had lived in the house for several years.

One of them, a pensioner who has lived in Malone Road for more than 20 years, said yesterday: "I had met the couple and their daughter on a social occasion a few years ago and knew them to say hello to. I would have put them in their early 40s, with their daughter between 11 and 13.

"I heard absolutely nothing this afternoon. As far as I'm concerned they were a nice young couple. I hadn't heard any arguments or anything over the garden fence.

"It's a complete shock. I'm in absolute disbelief. What a terrible day for their daughter. I can't contemplate what she's going to go through."

Thames Valley Police confirmed the body found at the house was that of an adult female. They are treating both deaths as unexplained and have not yet confirmed if they are linked.

A South Central Ambulance Service spokesman said: "We had a call at 13.47 to an incident in Malone Road, Woodley. It was reported to us as a female with stab wounds. We got there at 13.50. We did not treat or convey. She was beyond help. When we arrived at the scene and saw the patient we informed police.

"At 13.57 there was another incident, where a male had been hit by a train at Twyford. We were on the scene at 13.59."

Malone Road resident Eileen Mackey said the area has a low crime rate and is typically made up of two and three-bedroom terrace properties.

She said: "It's a nice area round here, near a park. It's probably the quietest street in the whole of Woodley. You don't get any crime here at all and I've lived here for years."

Police tape surrounded a Ford Focus parked outside Twyford station. A photo frame was face down on top of a towel on the passenger seat.

Thames Valley Police said they are not searching for anyone else in connection with the deaths.

The pair have yet to be formally identified.