Woman killed and daughter seriously injured after unexplained incident at Premier Inn hotel in Scotland

Margaret McDonough was a foster care worker who also stood as a Liberal Democrat candidate in local elections

A woman has died and her daughter is seriously injured after they were found - apparently stabbed - at this hotel in western Scotland (Google)

A woman has died and her daughter is seriously injured after they were found with "significant injuries" at a hotel in western Scotland.

A guest at the Premier Inn in Greenock, Inverclyde, discovered Nicola McDonough, 23, slumped unconscious in a hallway. Her 52-year-old mother, Margaret, was found in a nearby room.

They are both believed to have been stabbed. Mrs McDonough died later at Inverclyde Royal Hospital.

Police are trying to piece together the last movements of the women, who are from Paisley, Renfrewshire, and detectives have taken away their red Suzuki Swift for examination. The daughter is being "detained" at the hospital, where her condition was described as critical.

Detective Inspector David Wagstaff said: "We know that both women were in the Paisley area around 9am on Thursday May 9.

"However, we are trying to establish their movements from that time until 7am (on May 10) when they were found with serious injuries within a room in the hotel.

"We are unable at this time to establish whether there are any suspicious circumstances," he added.

"We have been unable as yet to speak to Margaret's daughter due to her ill health, and I really need anyone who can help us put together their last known movements to come forward due to the seriousness of the incident."

The pair checked in to the hotel shortly before 4pm on Thursday, detectives added, then left a short time later before possibly returning between 12.30am and 1am.

So far, no one has reported hearing anything from their room.

Margaret McDonough was a foster care worker who also stood as a Liberal Democrat candidate in local elections, and her daughter Nicola is said to have recently completed a degree in social work.