Mother and son 'hacked to death'

A mother and son were hacked to death in their own home by a man neighbours said was wielding an axe.

The woman's teenage daughter was badly hurt in the attack and her 13-year-old sister "severely traumatised", police said.

Armed police arrested a 45-year-old man a few hours later in Wiltshire. Police said the suspect was the woman's former partner.

Detectives and forensic investigators found a "horrific" scene when they arrived at the terrace home this morning.

The mother, in her 40s, was discovered by police in the property in Mold Crescent, Banbury, Oxfordshire, along with her son, who was in his 20s.

The victims were apparently murdered inside the house, but two of the woman's daughters managed to flee the scene.

A girl in her late teens was badly injured and her 13-year-old sister "traumatised" escaped uninjured.

Detective Inspector Steve Duffy confirmed the murder victims were believed to be mother and son and said of the surviving sisters: "They have obviously been through a horrific ordeal this morning."

Mr Duffy added: "We traced a suspect to an address in Wiltshire and police went to that address and effected an arrest."

The policeman said there was a "background" to the deaths and they were not random attacks.