Mother and son hacked to death in axe attack

Armed police arrested the 43-year-old former partner of the murdered woman just hours after discovering the "horrific" scene at the house in Banbury, Oxfordshire, yesterday morning.

The woman's third child, a 13-year-old girl, managed to escape the brutal attack unhurt but has been left severely traumatised, police said.

Officers made it clear there was considerable "background" to the deaths and that they were not simply random attacks.

Neighbours of the family said they had been told an axe was used by the murderer, but police could last night only confirm the injuries sustained by the family members "are consistent with blunt trauma."

The victims have not yet been formally identified and post-mortem examinations will be held later today to establish the causes of death.

The mother, in her 40s, was discovered at the terrace house in Mold Crescent by police at 6.45am, along with her son, who was in his 20s, after a neighbour raised the alarm. Both girls are understood to have fled from the house.

Detective Inspector Steve Duffy said: "As you can appreciate, officers went to the address and were faced with a horrific scene. There were two people obviously dead or very close to death at the scene.

"All I can confirm is their injuries are consistent with blunt trauma and I can't say if an axe was used – but a firearm was not used.

"The police traced a suspect to an address in Wiltshire, and police went to that address and effected an arrest."

The two sisters who survived the attack were due to be questioned as witnesses by police last night if their mental and physical states proved strong enough.

The older daughter – in her late teens – was badly injured, but her 13-year-old sister escaped without physical harm

Mr Duffy said: "They have obviously been through an horrific ordeal this morning."

The officer said police had received no previous calls to the address regarding domestic incidents.

A shocked neighbour of the victims, who did not want to be named, said: "All we've heard is there's been a murder and an axe was involved.

"I know the house but I don't know who lives there. We can't get up there because the police are blocking the street off. It's a very quiet street really. I never hear of any trouble."

The family are believed to have lived in the house for a year, Mr Duffy said.

More than 40 police officers were working on the investigation yesterday afternoon.

Ten uniformed officers remained at the scene, with five detectives and several forensic investigators.

The end-terrace house remained cordoned off last night, and a stretch of the road was closed to traffic and pedestrians in both directions.

Police officers were also present at a second house in Mold Crescent, opposite the scene of the attack.

Neighbours were last night trying to come to terms with what had happened in their own street.

Several said the incident had left them wanting to leave the area.

Aneta Lobocka, who has lived on the street for four years, said: "I think I will be moving out because I am very scared. It is very dangerous here.

"Some strange people live here, it's not safe.

"Two years ago there was another murder here. It is terrible, why here?"

Another female neighbour, who asked not be named, said: "This end of the road is quite quiet – but the atmosphere changes halfway down the road and there has been trouble here before. This is the second time there has been a murder, I think it might be time to move."

forensic: Investigators were still at the house in Banbury, Oxfordshire, last night.