THE bodies of a man and two young boys have been found on a beach in East Sussex, less than hour before police discovered the boys' mother dead in London.
Scotland Yard have launched a murder investigation after the woman, 47, was found stabbed to death at her home in Twickenham shortly before 6pm yesterday.
When detectives attempted to trace her 57-year-old husband and two sons, aged 7 and 10, Sussex Police told them they had found a man and two children dead around 90 miles away at Birling Gap.
No arrests have been made and the Metropolitan Police said they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the investigation.
A vehicle was recovered near to the seafront in East Sussex and a crime scene remains in place at the Twickenham residence.
In a statement, a Met spokesman said: "A woman aged 47 was found dead at the scene with stab injuries.
"Detectives quickly sought to establish the welfare of her husband, aged 57, and two children aged seven and 10, and carried out a number of urgent inquires.
"Just before 5pm, Sussex Police discovered the bodies of a man and two young boys at Birling Gap seafront, Eastbourne, East Sussex, and later contacted the Met.
A murder investigation has been launched after a woman was found deceased at an address #Twickenham, and the bodies of a man and two boys - believed to be her husband and children - were found in East #Sussex https://t.co/hVpW4WP1fk pic.twitter.com/s9ffTLAQEp
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) March 6, 2018
"Whilst formal identification awaits, police believe that they are the deceased woman's immediate family".
The force added: "Next of kin have been informed. No arrests have been made. Inquiries continue.
"At this early stage, police are not looking for anyone else in connection with this investigation.
"Anyone with information is asked to call the Metropolitan Police on 0208 721 4005, or locally to Sussex Police on 101 quoting Operation Glasson.
"You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."
A Sussex Police spokeswoman said: "At 4.55pm on Monday a member of the public found three bodies on the beach at the foot of cliffs at Birling Gap, East Dean.
"Emergency services attended and although formal identification has not yet taken place it is believed that the bodies are those of a 57-year-old man and two boys, aged seven and 10.
"They are believed to be a father and his two sons from an address in Twickenham, west London, where the body of a woman was found on Monday afternoon.
"The deaths are being treated as suspicious and an investigation is under way, led by the Metropolitan Police with support from Sussex Police."
