Bodies of two women in Nottingham house 'undiscovered for some time'

Police said officers were called to concerns for the welfare of the people living in the house in Hartley Road

The bodies of two women found in a house in Nottingham had "lain undiscovered for some time", police have said.

Nottinghamshire Police was called at 11:04 BST on Tuesday to concerns for the welfare of the people living at the home in Hartley Road, Radford.

After gaining entry to the property, two bodies were discovered inside.

A neighbour told the BBC she had not seen or heard the women for a few months.

Det Ch Insp Ruby Burrow said officers did not believe the deaths were suspicious at this stage.

She added: "This is a tragic case and we are currently working to understand exactly how and when these people died.

"Whilst our investigation remains at an early stage, we do not currently believe what happened to be suspicious.

"We have enlisted the help of a forensic pathologist and will be in a better position to determine what has happened once they conclude their report."

'Kept herself to herself'

She said officers would remain at the scene for "at least the rest of today".

Radford is an inner-city area, located to the west of Nottingham city centre.

Deborah Williams, who lives next door to the house where the bodies were found, said she had not seen or heard her neighbours for a few months.

She described one of the women as "mild-mannered" and said she "kept herself to herself".

At the scene

By Liam Barnes, BBC News

A small police presence remains outside the house.

Neighbours and nearby businesses said they saw police arriving at the scene on Tuesday.

It's a small road between two main routes in and out of Nottingham, and cars are still cutting through amid the rain.

Neighbours said the women lived a quiet life but were occasionally seen going out for walks or shopping.

A shop worker in Hartley Road said the discovery of the bodies was "shocking".

The worker, from Food Basket African Butchers and Grocers, said he first saw a police officer on the street at about 12:00 on Tuesday, and then saw a police vehicle later in the afternoon.

"We saw a police car yesterday and this morning, I thought it was normal, routine," he said.

"It is surprising, it's quite shocking."

A spokesperson for Nottingham City Council confirmed the home where the two women were found was a council property.

The spokesperson added: "We were deeply saddened to hear the news and our thoughts are with the friends, family and neighbours of the two residents at this time.

"We are currently liaising closely with the police to understand the circumstances around this tragic incident."