Southport murders: Plea for lodger Barry Morrow to return

Police said lodger Barry Morrow, 51, caught a ferry to Calais

The family of a mother and daughter who were murdered at a Merseyside house have appealed to the daughter's lodger to return to the UK and contact police.

The bodies of Angela Holgate, 54, and Alice Huyton, 75, were found at Ms Holgate's home in Fairhaven Road in Marshside, Southport, on Saturday.

In a statement, their family said they were "bewildered and devastated".

Detectives are liaising with forces in France and Spain where they believe Barry Morrow, 51, has travelled.

He is understood to have driven Ms Holgate's car to Calais after the murders took place.

Alice Huyton had been married to her childhood sweetheart, Jim, for 55 years

Her white Citroen, registration PN11 RWK, was seen in the port on Saturday evening.

John Huyton, son and brother of the victims, said: "Alice Huyton and her daughter, Angela Holgate, were integral cogs in our close-knit family.

"Both Alice and Angela were very popular and led active lives and had many friends.

"We appeal to Barry Morrow to return to the United Kingdom and assist the police with their investigation.

"Jim is distraught at the loss of the 'love of his life', Alice, who was his 'rock'."

Mr and Mrs Huyton had known each other since childhood and been married for 55 year.

"We are all bewildered and devastated at the loss of two very special people and are finding it extremely difficult to come to terms with the senseless murders of Alice and Angela, who were much loved," the family added.

Police said they believed Mr Morrow could have vital information about the women's last hours.

Asphyxiation death

He was last seen at 19:20 GMT on Saturday after catching a ferry from Dover and it is thought he may have been travelling to Spain.

Post-mortem examination results showed Ms Holgate and Mrs Huyton died of asphyxiation, with Ms Holgate dying some time before her mother.

The officer leading the investigation, Ch Supt Nikki Holland, has appealed to Mr Morrow to return to the UK and "tell us everything he knows".

He is described as white, 5ft 7in (1.7m), of a medium to stocky build, with straight, short, brown, receding hair and blue eyes.

Mr Morrow has a previous conviction for assault, having pleaded guilty in 2010 to assaulting a woman in Southport.

The victim in that case was not Ms Holgate or Mrs Huyton.