Southport murders: Solicitors act for lodger Barry Morrow

Police believe Mr Morrow may be in France or Spain

A man police want to speak to in connection with the murder of a mother and daughter in Southport has contacted a firm of solicitors in Burnley.

Barry Morrow, 51, was a lodger at the house in Fairhaven Road where the bodies of Angela Holgate, 54, and Alice Huyton, 75, were found on Saturday.

Donald, Race and Newton solicitors said they are acting for Mr Morrow.

Police, who believe Mr Morrow may be in France or Spain, would not confirm if discussions had taken place.

Keith Rennison, of Donald, Race and Newton, confirmed that the solicitors had been "contacted and instructed to act" for Mr Morrow.

France or Spain

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

Police said Mr Morrow may have vital information about the women's last hours.

They believe that Mr Morrow left for France on Saturday evening and that he may be in France or Spain.

He is understood to have driven Ms Holgate's car, a white Citroen registration PN11 RWK, to Calais.

Ch Supt Nikki Holland, who is leading the investigation, 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.