A former soldier, his wife and their two infants were found shot dead yesterday on a private housing estate in Surrey.
Police officers made the tragic discovery at a house in the affluent suburb of Heathside on the outskirts of Camberley, Surrey, after neighbours raised the alarm when post and milk bottles were left untouched on the doorstep for several days.
A shotgun was found in the house and was taken away for forensic examination.
Former Coldstream Guards sergeant, Mr Anthony Smith, his wife Kay and their son and daughter were found in upstairs bedrooms.
Police have said they are treating the deaths as three murders and one suicide.
Officers from Surrey police cordoned off the estate at about 9.30 a.m. and forced their way into the five-bedroom, red brick house on Heathside Park. Supt John Beavis of Surrey Police said officers were conducting a forensic examination of the house.
One resident of the estate, Mr Dave McCormick (55), described the discovery as "staggering. It's just not what you would expect in an area like this. This tends to be the quiet, more up-market side of Camberley and things like that don't happen here".