Bourne End murder inquiry under way after three bodies found

Thames Valley Police said officers were called to a property in Bourne End on Tuesday

A "complex" murder investigation is under way after three bodies were found at a sheltered accommodation scheme.

A man and a woman, in their 60s, and man, in his 50s, were found dead at Orchard House on Spring Gardens, Bourne End, Buckinghamshire, on Tuesday.

Thames Valley Police said officers were called to the address at about 21:55 BST following reports of a disturbance.

The force said all three were known to each other and described the incident as a "targeted attack".

It added that formal identification of the bodies was still to take place.

Det Supt Kevin Brown said: "We are in the very early stages of this investigation and we are dealing with a very complex inquiry, which appears a targeted attack.

"We are not looking for anyone else in connection with it."

The man and woman, from Bourne End, and the other man, from Hazlemere, have not been identified.

Police have appealed for anyone who might have seen something in the area of Orchard House to come forward

Det Supt Brown added: "A scene watch is likely to be in place for a number of days at very least, which is likely to have an impact on local residents and we would like to thank them in advance for their patience.

"The next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers, our thoughts remain with them at this most difficult time."

The force has appealed for anyone who heard a disturbance or saw anything suspicious in or around Orchard House or Spring Gardens between 17:00 and 22:00 to come forward.

At the scene: Helena Wilkinson, BBC News Correspondent

Residents emerging from the sheltered accommodation in this quiet riverside village have been describing their shock at what happened on Tuesday night.

There is police tape with a number of officers standing outside the block of 39 flats, which are for people over the age of 60.

Eve Speight lives on the second floor with her husband, a few flats down from the one where the three bodies were discovered.

She told the BBC that her husband heard two men arguing earlier in the evening.

She then described the "frightening" moment armed police arrived with a helicopter circling overheard.

"We knew instantaneously there must be a murder or somebody got killed," Ms Speight said.

"The next thing we knew we had armed police in the flat and they searched every room and they said they would do that in the whole building.

"It was frightening because we didn't know what was going on, nobody was telling us anything."

Ms Speight said all the residents are "very sad" and added that it is "not a nice place to live anymore once this has happened".

"You begin to think about your own security," she said.

Red Kite housing association, which runs the property where the incident happened, confirmed it was assisting police with their investigation.

Head of communications, Julie Gamble-Kempe, said staff were "shocked" and were supporting the other residents who lived there.

"The welfare of our tenants and their safety is of utmost importance to us, so we will be working with tenants who live at the scheme to ensure they feel safe and secure and will do everything we can to help them through this very difficult time," she said.