Boy,14, held over killing of mother and daughter

A 14-year-old boy is being quizzed as a suspect after the killing of an elderly widow and her adopted daughter, it emerged today.

Iris Jones, 79, and Mandy Joseph, 34, were found dead with appalling shotgun wounds at their secluded ?300,000 house in a Bedfordshire village after making a "frantic" 999 call about intruders on Sunday.

It is understood officers received a tip-off from a resident in Beccles, Suffolk, and arrested the boy there along with an older man and woman. All three are expected to be separately questioned today.

The dramatic arrests came as it emerged Mrs Jones had fostered more than 120 children, including Miss Joseph and her brother Mark, during 30 years as a carer.

Police are attempting to contact every child helped by Mrs Jones, of Hockliffe, near Leighton Buzzard, to establish if her murder has any connection to her care work.

Today Mrs Jones's only natural son, Brian, 56, from Stanbridge, Bedfordshire, appealed for witnesses to come forward. He said: "Nothing can fully describe the sense of shock and loss the family feel following the tragic deaths of my mother and Mandy.

"The house was always full of children-and full of love. Mum was a great organiser and always ensured everything ran smoothly, even with up to a dozen of us in the house.

"Although Mandy was a foster child she was like a daughter to my mum who had looked after her since she was four."

Miss Joseph was a care worker at a nearby nursing home but had called in sick. She looked after her adoptive mother who was partially sighted and suffered from heart problems and diabetes.

Officers have been granted extra time by magistrates to interview the suspects. Anyone with information should call 01582 471212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.