Father and four children found dead in car

A father has killed himself and his four young children in a vehicle at Horseshoe Pass, Llangollen, North Wales Police said.

The boys' mother alerted police after receiving a mobile phone call from her estranged husband shortly after midnight. Police were able to trace the call to the North Wales area and alert patrols there. The car was found by officers less than two hours later.

North Wales Police said the boys, who have not yet been named, were aged three, five, six and seven. It appears they were gassed by their father as a petrol lawn mower was found in the back of the family car, a Mitsubishi Shogun.

Bill Brereton, deputy chief constable of North Wales Police, described the incident as "horrendous beyond my imagination".

The boys' father had legitimate access to the children and it is understood he had been due to look after them overnight.

Mr Brereton said: "At 12.20 this morning, Cheshire Police received a 999 call from a woman in the Winsford area saying she had had a call from her husband, from whom she was separated, and he was threatening to harm himself and their four children."

He added: "The vehicle was located by a dog handler near the top of the Horseshoe Pass in Llangollen. The vehicle was locked so he had to smash the window and drag the children out. He did his very best to give them first aid but sadly they were taken to hospital and declared dead on arrival.

"We are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident but, together with Cheshire Police we have launched an investigation to establish the precise circumstances."

The Horseshoe Pass is one of North Wales' most popular beauty spots and a magnet for visitors. Climbing to a height of more than 1,300ft, thousands of tourists use the road each year to access its spectacular views and rambling walks through the Vale of Llangollen.

"Post–mortems will take place today to establish the cause of death but we can say there was a petrol lawn mower in the back of the vehicle.

"I can't begin to imagine how the children's mother must be feeling.

"In 29 years of police service I have come to realise that dealing with dead bodies is part of the job. But with the death of a child, and here we have four babies really, it is horrendous beyond my imagination.

"The officer who found the children will be offered counselling."

The father is believed to be in his thirties and an agricultural or gardening worker.

The children and their father are likely to be named later this afternoon following formal identification by the North East Wales coroner.