Mother and daughter were asphyxiated

An Avon lady and her mother found murdered in the same house died from asphyxiation, police said today, as they continued their search for a missing lodger who was at the property.

Angela Holgate, 54, and Alice Huyton, 75, were discovered by a relative at Mrs Holgate's home near Southport, Merseyside, on Saturday.

Detectives are looking for Barry Morrow, 51, saying they believe he may have information vital to the investigation. It is feared he may have left for France or Spain. Police sources confirmed he was "known to the police". It is also understood he pleaded guilty last year to assaulting a Southport woman. The victim was neither Mrs Holgate nor her mother.

Post-mortem examinations confirmed both victims died from asphyxiation, Merseyside police said

Mrs Huyton was last seen on Friday when she left her home to visit her daughter. Her husband, thought to be in his eighties, was said to be "devastated". Mrs Holgate had been ill and had not been seen out of the house for a week. Her white Citroen, registration PN11 RWK, is missing.

A neighbour told how Mr Morrow had repaved their front garden and drive: "I told him he was doing a good job. He was powerfully built."