Murder hunt after double death

POLICE HAVE launched a double murder inquiry after an elderly mother and her daughter were found stabbed to death at their remote cottage.

Janice Sheridan, who was in her 40s and her mother Constance, who was in her 70s, were discovered by a neighbour at their home, Zealmyre, at Upwell, near Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, on Sunday.

The pair had been stabbed several times in what police described as a "nasty" attack. One of the victims was discovered in the lounge of the house and the other woman's body was found outside.

A post-mortem examination was being conducted last night by a Home Office pathologist and police were due to give a news conference this morning to make further appeals for information.

Janice Sheridan had been a Crufts-winning whippet breeder for more than 15 years and kept a number of dogs at the home she and her mother had shared for the past 10 years.

She was well-known among breeders in the area. The secretary of the East Anglian Whippet Club said yesterday that fellow breeders were "stunned" by the news.

A police spokesman said they were keeping an open mind and treating the deaths as "suspicious" until the post-mortem examination had been completed.

They are appealing for information about any sightings of an individual with recently inflicted slash injuries or wearing bloodstained clothing.

Police were originally called to investigate by a visitor who became concerned when he found no one at home, and heard only the sound of barking dogs. The Sheridans had last been seen alive on Thursday.

Police believe the women were stabbed a number of times with a knife - although no weapon has been found.

"It wasn't a frenzied attack, but it was nasty," said the spokesman.

"There were no obvious signs of a break-in although we are keeping an open mind."