Neighbours speak out as two women found dead in house on New Year's Eve

01 January 2024 , 12:08

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Forensic teams are at the scene in Cheadle, Staffordshire (Image: PA)

People living in a quiet street have described their shock after two women were found dead in a detached house on New Year's Eve.

Ambulances filled the lane, alerting residents to the incident, as a helicopter landed nearby before police officers also arrived at the scene in Cheadle. A 68-year-old man was later arrested on two counts of murder. People living in the lane, which looks out onto the surrounding Staffordshire countryside, said an elderly woman lived there with her daughter and her daughter’s husband.

Pensioner Ted Clowes: “What a thing to happen on New Year’s Eve. It’s terrible, it really is. We were sitting here and the helicopter came over. It made such a noise. That was the first thing we knew about it. Then there were quite a few police cars arrived and the whole street filled up with emergency vehicles. It’s so quiet round here. You just don’t think something like this will happen.”

Another neighbour said: “We saw the helicopter from our home. It startled us and we came out to have a look. I don’t know what’s happened. You just don’t expect it up here. It’s so dreadful.”

This morning morning, a section of the lane was sealed off between the house where the incident happened and the town centre. A number of white-suited forensics officers could be seen going in and out of the property, which is a modern bungalow with dormer windows in the roof. A white police tent was in place next to the back of property.

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Aerial view of the home in Cheadle with the police tent in the garden (PA)

In a statement, Staffordshire Police said: “We have arrested a man after the death of two women at a house in Cheadle. We were called to Park Lane at 3pm this afternoon (Sunday) to reports a woman’s body had been found and another woman was injured. Both women were pronounced dead at approximately 3.50pm.

“A 68-year-old man, from Cheadle, has been arrested on suspicion of two counts of murder. Anyone with information, CCTV, smart doorbell or dashcam footage should contact 101 quoting incident number 340 of December 31."

Kelly-Ann Mills