Father held over family deaths

Police are today continuing to investigate the deaths of a mother-of-four and her teenage son who were stabbed in a frenzied attack at their home.

The bodies of Maureen Faulkner and her 16-year-old son Paul were found by officers answering a 999 call from neighbours in Loughton, Essex, who overheard "a violent disturbance".

Mrs Faulkner's husband, Stephen, was arrested on suspicion of murder and taken to hospital where he was treated for serious knife wounds to the chest. His condition is not thought to be life threatening. Two of the couple's three daughters, aged seven and eight, were found safe at a nearby house after the killings on Saturday evening.

Friends of the dead teenager, who was studying for his GCSEs at Roding Valley comprehensive school, said his parents were having marriage problems and that Mr Faulkner had been sleeping in his car.

Frankie Biggs, 15, said: "His parents were splitting up. I know his dad had been booted out and was living in his car outside work."

An Essex police spokesman said: "We are waiting to speak to the two girls who may be able to shed some light on what happened in the house. We are not looking for anyone else with regard to this incident."