Husband and wife found dead in their home on Christmas morning

Police are investigating a suspected double suicide by two parents said to be in 'financial trouble'.

The couple, believed to have children aged five and seven, were found dead at their home in Billingshurst, West Sussex on Christmas Day morning by a concerned relative and a neighbour.

Residents living nearby said they seemed 'completely normal and pleasant' but were believed to be 'in deep financial trouble'

Police outside the West Sussex home where the parents of two young children were found dead yesterday

A worried relative had gone to the couple's semi-detached home shortly after 9am and saw the bodies through a window. The man was said to have been found hanged. 

Neighbours said that it was understood that the man, 33, and woman, 30, had two children who were not present at the semi-detached house when police broke in.

It was thought the couple had made special arrangements for them to be looked after overnight. 

A neighbour, who asked not want to be named, said: 'I was the one who got in and found them. It's been a real shock.' Another neighbour added: 'They were a very private couple but we would always speak to them over the fence when we saw them and we would sometimes wash the cars together. They had a couple of young children.

'They were very nice people. We used to receive Christmas cards from them and my wife spoke to the wife over the fence on Christmas Eve. She said the children were staying with a relative.

Police said that they were investigating the double death and stressed that they were not seeking anyone else in connection with the deaths.