Mother and son found dead with knife injuries

A post-mortem examination will take place today after a mother and son were found dead with knife injuries at their home.

Officers were called to Banbury Avenue in Halewood, Liverpool, at around 11.40am yesterday by a member of the public.

A police spokesman said: "On arrival officers found the bodies of a woman believed to be in her 50s and a man believed to be in his 20s inside of the property.

"It would appear that both the man and woman have suffered knife injuries."

The bodies were identified by neighbours as those of Annie Coffey and her son Christopher, with whom she lived.

One neighbour said that police broke a door down and went into the house this morning.

The bodies were found in their respective bedrooms, the neighbour said.

She said Mrs Coffey was a widow who worked in the ticket office of Halewood railway station and that she had three adult sons - one of whom lived with her.

"She was a really lovely lady. She had three lovely sons. They've never been in trouble. I just can't believe it. It's horrible. They were such a normal family. It's so sad," said the neighbour, who asked not to be named.

Police are treating the deaths as unexplained, but it is understood officers are not looking for anyone else in connection with the fatalities.

The scene has been sealed for forensic examination.

The bodies are yet to be formally identified.