Police probe double murders link

A man aged 34 is being sought after twin sisters were murdered in a North Yorkshire village. Neighbours reported screams and seeing two men weeping outside the property in Camblesforth where the women, whom police named last night as Claire and Diane Sanderson, both 27, were found.

A man fitting the description of Mark Hobson, who is wanted for the murders of 27–year–old twin sisters Claire and Diane Sanderson, was seen near the home of an elderly couple who were killed within hours nearby, police said today.

North Yorkshire Police said the four deaths "may well be linked".

Detective Superintendent Javad Ali said Hobson, who they want to talk to in connection with the murder of the twins in Camblesforth, North Yorkshire, at the weekend, was spotted not far from Strensall, where the bodies of James and Joan Britton were discovered on Sunday in their home.

North Yorkshire Deputy Chief Constable Roger Baker said: "Clearly we want to speak to him (Hobson) about four murders."

Mr Ali said Hobson, who lived at the flat where the twins' bodies were found, was seen in the Wiggington Road area of York in the early hours of Sunday morning and a man fitting his description was spotted at 9.15am in Strensall.

Mr Ali said it was possible that the "two incidents may well be linked".

He also revealed that Diane Sanderson was strangled and had suffered a number of other injuries to her body.

He said a post–mortem had so far failed to establish a definite cause of death for Claire but stressed that she had been the victim of a "violent assault".

Mr Britton, 80, died from stab wounds and had also suffered a number of other injuries to his body.

His wife, 82, had suffered a "vicious assault including stab wounds" but an initial post–mortem had not established the cause of death.

Police were called to a flat in Camblesforth, near Selby, shortly after 8am on Sunday when they found the women's bodies.

Mr and Mrs Britton's bodies were discovered later that morning by a neighbour.