Two women killed in 'horrific incident' at massage parlour

Police sealed off part of a town yesterday after the bodies of two women killed in a "horrific incident" were found in what officers belive was a massage parlour.

The Frankwell area of Shrewsbury in Shropshire and the Welsh Bridge over the Severn were cordoned off after the discovery.

The women, one in her forties, the other in her twenties, have not been officially identified. Police said they had suffered "significant head injuries ... in a horrific incident".

The bodies were discovered in the same room, lying near a door in a building described as a health studio. No murder weapon has been found. Police confirmed that they were investigating claims that the building was being used as a massage parlour.

Police officers, who were alerted to the incident when a member of the public flagged down a patrol car, are now looking at CCTV footage taken from cameras in the Frankwell area in the hope of identifying the killer.

Detective Superintendent Andy Rowsell said: "Both victims had severe head injuries, but until a post-mortem has been carried out, it is not possible to speculate on the cause of death. This is obviously an horrific incident and I am anxious to hear from anyone who can help the investigation. We will be seeking to establish a possible motive and build a picture of the circumstances leading up to these deaths."

He said that more than 40 officers were involved in the murder investigation and appealed for anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area between Saturday afternoon and 2.45am yesterday morning to contact the police.

A post-mortem examination is due to take place later today.

Paul Turner, 43, who lives a few streets away from the building where the women were found, said the property had been used as a brothel for at least the past six years. "I don't know how they got away with having something like that around here for so long," he said. "The authorities must have known about it and turned a blind eye.

"I've never used it myself but when you come out of the pub you always see women going in there. There's comings and goings in that place at all times of the day and night."

Another man, who did not want his name published, added: "This area is quite lively and has some nice bars. But there is also a sex trade here and that does attract a certain type of rather unsavoury characters as clients. I presume that is what happened here: the girls unfortunately ran into a psycho."