The bodies of two women have been found inside a house in Nottingham, with police saying they had lain undiscovered for some time.
Nottinghamshire police said officers were called to a property in Radford, an inner-city area of Nottingham, at 11.04am on Tuesday after concerns were raised for the welfare of the occupants.
Officers later gained entry to the property by breaking down the back door and found the bodies of two women inside. Investigations are continuing to establish how and when the women died, police said.
DCI Ruby Burrow said: “This is a tragic case and we are currently working to understand exactly how and when these people died.
“Whilst our investigation remains at an early stage, we do not currently believe what happened to be suspicious. We have enlisted the help of a forensic pathologist and will be in a better position to determine what has happened once they conclude their report.
“In the meantime my thoughts – and those of every other officer involved in this investigation – are with those who have died, their family and friends.”
The end-of-terrace council home where the two women were found sits on a busy road in Nottingham, surrounded by other houses as well as shops and takeaways. The property appeared unkempt, with an overgrown garden covered in weeds and rubbish, and flies could be seen in the window, as well as a curtain dangling off a rail.
Neighbours said a woman and her daughter, who had disabilities, had lived at the address, but had not been seen for a number of weeks.
A nextdoor neighbour, who asked not to be named, said social services had knocked on her door a number of times over the past two years when they were unable to gain access to the property or speak to the inhabitants.
She said: “People would be knocking on my door saying they wanted to repair the property or something, but she [her neighbour] never opened her door.
“They kept themselves to themselves – we only saw them when they were going shopping or coming back, and if I passed them in the street I would say hello and she would politely say hello. I don’t know their names, I don’t know anything about them.”
She said she believed the daughter was non-verbal and unable to walk unaided, and was “totally dependant on her mum”. The neighbour last saw the pair shopping in Aldi a few months ago and hadn’t heard any noise coming from the property for a while.
The neighbour said: “Me and my daughter kept saying: something’s not right. But it’s not for us to kick the door down. It’s a shock for us. I just hope they have some family somewhere. Somebody must know this lady and her daughter.”
George Pindeni, 43, who lives a few doors down, said he used to see the woman and her daughter walking past his house but had not seen them for a number of months.
He said: “They were a mother and daughter, they were living on their own, and the daughter was severely disabled – I had never personally seen her walking before. It’s really sad, especially if they have been dead for some time. I didn’t know them really, I would just say hi when I saw them.”
A spokesperson for Nottingham city council said: “We were deeply saddened to hear the news and our thoughts are with the friends, family and neighbours of the two residents at this time. We are currently liaising closely with the police to understand the circumstances around this tragic incident.”
