Four bodies discovered in house

Detectives have launched a major inquiry after the bodies of two adults and two children were found at a house, police said today.

Northamptonshire Police said the family members, who are of Chinese descent, were discovered at an address on the Wootton estate in Northampton at about 6pm last night.

A force spokesman said: "Police have set up a major incident room and more than 30 detectives are involved in the investigation of these deaths."

The spokesman added that the children were thought to be an 11-year-old and a teenager.

Appealing for the public to come forward with information about the deaths, the spokesman said: "The four people are believed to be members of the same family and are of Chinese descent.

"Detectives and forensic officers are working at the scene to establish the cause of these deaths."

In a statement issued on the Northamptonshire Police website, the force said it did not believe there was any risk to people living in the local area.

The statement read: "At this moment in time the motive behind the deaths does not appear to be due to burglary or robbery.

"Local officers are conducting house-to-house inquiries and are liaising with residents and local people to offer reassurance and advice over any safety concerns.

"We do not believe there is any risk to the wider public."

The statement stressed that officers, who forced entry to the property, were still in the early stages of the inquiry but were treating the deaths with the highest priority.

The police statement continued: "We have as yet been unable to formally identify the bodies, and this is currently our main priority.

"Forensic specialists and other officers are on scene and are likely to be so for several days as we try to establish the exact cause and circumstances of the deaths."

Members of the public who believe they may have relevant information about the deaths are asked to contact Northamptonshire Police on 0800 096 1011 or 0207 158 0126 between the hours of 8am and midnight, and ask for the Operation Nene incident room.