Detectives have launched a murder investigation and arrested a man in connection with the discovery of a woman's body in Southport.

Officers attended a house in Lonsdale Road at 5.20pm where they found the body of a woman believed to be in her 80s.


Birch Street


Lonsdale Road

A Home Office post mortem examination is scheduled to take place to establish her cause of death and enquiries are ongoing to trace the woman's next of kin.Officers have arrested a 43-year-old man from the Southport area on suspicion of murder.

He remains in police custody for questioning. The house has been cordoned off for forensic examination, house-to-house enquiries are ongoing in the area, high visibility patrols have been stepped up and CCTV is also being sought.

At this stage of the investigation officers are working to establish the full circumstances of the incident and are exploring the possibility that it was a burglary.

DCI John Roberts said: "This is a tragic incident that has resulted in the death of an elderly woman.

"While we are at the early stages of the murder inquiry we are investigating a possible connection with a burglary.

"A man has been arrested in connection with the incident and we urge anyone who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously in the area in the days and weeks prior to the incident, or has any information about burglaries in the area to call us, no matter how small that piece of information may seem, as it could be vital to our investigation."

Anyone with any information about this incident, or about burglaries in the area - particularly those where elderly people have been victims - is urged to contact detectives on 0151 777 3833, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

UPDATE - MURDER ENQUIRY, SOUTHPORT

As a result of further enquiries a second body has been recovered at an address in Birch Street, Southport in the early hours of this morning (Wednesday, 22 February).


Birch Street

At this time the cause of death has yet to be established and Home Office post mortems will be carried out later today.

Both of the victims are believed to be women in their 80s, although formal identification is yet to take place.

A 43-year-man from Southport has been arrested on suspicion of murder, and will be further interviewed in connection with the enquiry.

The Force Major Incident Team is leading the investigation and house-to-house enquiries are underway, both scenes remain sealed for forensic examination.

Anyone with information is asked to call the FMIT on 0800 230 0600 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Below is the scene of the Birch Street murder





UPDATE

The second murder victim is named as Annie Leyland of Birch Street, Southport. 43-year-old taxi driver Andy Flood from Clifton Road, Southport is helping police with their enquiries. He has not been charged as yet.

UPDATE

The family of Southport murder victim Margaret Biddolph were said to be "completely numb" after their mother's death.

Speaking at the home of her brother James in Talbot Road, Southport, Mrs Biddolph's daughter said: "My brother an I are deeply upset. He will not speak to anyone.

"We are completely numb at what has happened. What can you say really?

"My mother has been murdered and we can only take some comfort from the fact that a man in in custody.

"We are still very traumatised and really cannot take it all in."
(Courtesy of Mercury Press Liverpool)

UPDATE THURSDAY 23/2/2012 TIME 17:53

Today (Thursday 23rd February 2012) Merseyside Police Forensics and their Matrix Search Team conducted an inch by inch search of a house in Clifton Road, Southport, in connection with the double murder.

They left the house at 5:00pm today satisfied they got everything they were looking for on their hit list. The potential evidence was taken away in plastic bags to be examined.










UPDATE THURSDAY 23/2/2012 TIME 18:06

Police will investigate whether the murder of two frail pensioners in Southport could be linked with a third death in the town.

Detectives will establish whether there is any possible connection with the discovery of the body of a man found hanged in a public park in Southport on Monday.

However, Merseyside Police were at pains to stress that "at this stage" there is no evidence to connect the events.

The corpse of haulage driver Alan Bellinghall, 49, was found hanging from a tree in Hesketh Park, on Monday afternoon.

That grim discovery came hours before taxi driver Andrew Flood, 43, was arrested for the murder of two elderly widows in the resort.

Father-of-three Flood walked into Southport police station on Monday night to turn himself over to police.

Locals said the two men knew each other but police underlined that they have no evidence to link Mr Bellingham's death to the double murder investigation.

However, Mr Bellingham's death could be completely unconnected with the murder inquiry.

Flood reported to police in drunken state with information about the deaths of Margaret Biddulph and Annie Leyland whose bodies were found at their homes in the resort.

Police said that "as a matter of routine" they will investigate whether there was a link between the death of Mr Bellinghall, of Burscough, Lancs, and those of the two elderly women.

A Merseyside Police spokeswoman said: "The investigation of two deaths is the prime concern of the team engaged in this murder inquiry.

"At this stage we cannot confirm of deny whether there is an connection between the two deaths and any other incident that has occurred."

Mrs Biddulph, 78, a retired factory worker, was found at her home on Lonsdale Road, Southport on Tuesday night.

Mrs Leyland was discovered hours later at her semi-detached home on Birch Street, less than a mile away.

Merseyside police confirmed Flood had volunteered himself at the local police station on Monday.

He was arrested on suspicion of murder but was intoxicated and officers had to wait until Tuesday before they could interview Flood, once he had sobered-up in custody.

Crime Scene Investigation officers have continued to search his home in Clifton Road, Southport, where he lived with his partner and their three children.

Story courtesy www.clickliverpool.com

UPDATE

Post Mortem

Two women who were murdered at their homes in Southport both died from asphyxiation, a post mortem revealed.

Taxi Driver Alan Flood, 43, is being quizzed by detectives about the murders of Margaret Biddolph, 78 and Anne Leyland, 88, in Southport.

Father-of-three Flood reported to police in a drunken stupor on Monday night with information about the deaths of the women.

Mrs Biddolph, 78, a retired factory worker, was found at her home on Lonsdale Road, Southport on Tuesday.

Mrs Leyland was discovered in the early hours of Wednesday morning at her semi-detached home on Birch Street, less than a mile away.

Crime Scene Investigation officers today (THURS) continued their search of Flood's home in Clifton Road, Southport, where he lived with his partner and their three children.

Merseyside Police said both women had been formally identified.

A spokesman said: "Post mortems have been carried out and the cause of death for both women is asphyxia.

"Officers have been granted a further extension to continue questioning the 43-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder, and he is to be further interviewed in connection with the enquiry.

"The Force Major Incident Team is leading the investigation and are appealing for anyone who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously in Londsdale Road, or Birch Street in the last week to contact the Major Incident Team."

Anyone with information is asked to call the FMIT on 0800 230 0600 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The families of both victims have also issued statements.

Philip Leyland, son of Anne Leyland, said: "Firstly, I am co-operating with the police to help them carry out their duty and I would appeal to anyone with information to come forward.

"Secondly, I ask to be left alone to grieve quietly and to come to terms with what has happened."

Alex Biddolph and Anne Pearson, the son and daughter of Margaret Biddolph, said: "We as a family would like to thank the members of the public who have assisted the police with their enquiries.

"We would also urge anyone with any information that could help the police with their investigation to get in touch.

"The media are asked to respect our privacy and not to approach us directly at this time to allow us to grieve over our loss." Story courtesy www.clickliverpool.com

UPDATE FRIDAY 24/2/12

UPDATE - ANDREW FLOOD CHARGED WITH MURDER

Merseyside Police has charged 43-year-old Andrew Simon Flood, of Clifton Road Southport, with the murders of 78-year-old Margaret Biddolph and 88-year-old Anne Leyland.

Flood is also charged with robbery in connection with an incident in Jane's Brook Road on Saturday (18, February).

He has been remanded in custody to appear at South Sefton Magistrates Court this morning (Friday, 24 February).

UPDATE FRIDAY 24/2/12

Andrew Simon Flood has appeared in court charged with the murders of Margaret Biddolph, 78, from Lonsdale Road, and Anne Leyland, 88, from Birch Street, Southport.

He did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody to appear at Liverpool Crown Court next Tuesday (28th February 2012).

Post-mortem examinations revealed both women died of asphyxiation.

Mr Flood is also charged with robbery in connection with an incident on Saturday in Janes Brook Road, Southport.

There were floods of tears coming from Mr. Flood when he appeared before South Sefton Magistrates.


UPDATE WEDNESDAY 29TH FEBRUARY 2012

Andrew Simon Flood, aged 43, appeared by video link at Liverpool Crown Court accused of murdering Margaret Biddolph, 78, and Anne Leyland, 88.

Both victims were discovered in their own homes and post-mortem test results showed they died of asphyxia.

Mr Flood's next hearing at Liverpool Crown Court is on 16th March 2012 when he is expected to enter his plea.

Mr Flood is also charged with robbery in connection with an incident in Janes Brook Road on 18th February 2012.

So sad .

Originally Posted by redbowls2005

Where is lonsdale road

http://maps.google.co.uk/

Originally Posted by redbowls2005

Where is lonsdale road

Off Town Lane on the left going towards Ash St - before you get to Everard Road ;-)

So sad, is it just me or is there a lot more murders going on in Southport than ever before?

Originally Posted by Anthillmob

So sad, is it just me or is there a lot more murders going on in Southport than ever before?

i was just saying the same thing, and a few suicides
Very Sad :(

id also love to know which local residents have said the above statement too.... i am a resident of the said street and know for a fact that the police have not said ANYTHING to anyone.....

everyones instant reaction is to see whats going on bt seriously have some bloody respect.... yes there has been an incident which is clearly serious but the resident of the house in question had children and a family, who regardless of the games of chinese whispers that have started from nowhere are probably distraught. its pretty sad that people are so quick to jump to conclusions, if anyone wants to know wats going on theres an officer stood outside the house.... take ur arse up there and ask them yourself instead of listening to hear say and adding your own details..... i know im not the only one who knows of this person from living on the street and are hoping for the best... thoughts go out to the family

Originally Posted by yummymummy22

That picture is nowere near the actual 'crime scene' its not closed off to tge public, its closed off to cars and noone knows whats happened!

Yes it is near it. I live opposite and knew the person very well.

Originally Posted by yummymummy22

id also love to know which local residents have said the above statement too.... i am a resident of the said street and know for a fact that the police have not said ANYTHING to anyone.....

everyones instant reaction is to see whats going on bt seriously have some bloody respect.... yes there has been an incident which is clearly serious but the resident of the house in question had children and a family, who regardless of the games of chinese whispers that have started from nowhere are probably distraught. its pretty sad that people are so quick to jump to conclusions, if anyone wants to know wats going on theres an officer stood outside the house.... take ur arse up there and ask them yourself instead of listening to hear say and adding your own details..... i know im not the only one who knows of this person from living on the street and are hoping for the best... thoughts go out to the family

Here Here!
Also as a resident of Lonsdale I think it is absolutely awful that the first thing people want to know is whats gone on. If it was your family, how would you like people poking around for answers to questions which are VERY sensitive. Police have been outside our house for the last X hours and our thoughts are with that person and their family.

Originally Posted by 05gibbod

Yes it is near it. I live opposite and knew the person very well.

not that it makes a difference but its not of 'the house' as you know. just another thing that southport gb have got wrong

Originally Posted by yummymummy22

not that it makes a difference but its not of 'the house' as you know. just another thing that southport gb have got wrong

Oh you know why that is, people are too quick to think what MIGHT be rather than what IS.

Yummy mummy 22 stop trying to be a victim. Q local always to blame. If it wasn't for them you wouldn't be able to write your dribble. So what you live down there you curtain twitcher.

The houses in the picture are outwith the police cordon, maybe its not good to show those houses, in my opinion, thats not fair on the occupants of those homes. Im sorry for the people who are affected/involved in the incident. But please make it clear that the homes in view are NOT part of the incident.

Originally Posted by range 69

Yummy mummy 22 stop trying to be a victim. Q local always to blame. If it wasn't for them you wouldn't be able to write your dribble. So what you live down there you curtain twitcher.

back off. leave yummymummy out of this. this road was always closely knit and it will all effect us. yummy isnt trying to be a victim, they are just expressing what we are all feeling right now.

RIP thoughts are with the family x x x

05 gibbod. What I am saying is yummy is slagging gb off. Why is she ,no where does it mention it was that house. She was stating people are jumping to conclusions GB wasn't saying it was the house. RIP to the lady involved.

Originally Posted by 05gibbod

Here Here!
Also as a resident of Lonsdale I think it is absolutely awful that the first thing people want to know is whats gone on. If it was your family, how would you like people poking around for answers to questions which are VERY sensitive. Police have been outside our house for the last X hours and our thoughts are with that person and their family.

Would you rather people didn't even care what had gone on?
This is a news thread/story and as sad as the story may well be,people will want to know/will be interested in knowing what has happened.
How about you let people read the news without trying to make out they are being out of order by doing so.

Theres news and people want to know yes I appreciate that. But the houses shown are not involved with the incident, people do care and to be honest anyone would want to know if a murderer was running wild in their street, however it doesn't look as though this is the case here so why show peoples homes cars caravans etc when they are not involved?

It is a road, with houses in it, with cars parked at the side and with Police cars parked up.

Nowhere does it connect any of the houses to the incident.

Don't be so paranoid.



My thoughts are with the victims family at this very sad and horrific time.

First of all, My strongest regards to all affected by this dreadful piece of news.

Secondly, and I reluctantly say this. Southport! stop being a bunch of doo-gooding fools. It is human nature to want to know what is happening in our town. At the end of the day if you clicked on this and it was in London .......

The media in general simply cannot shield "surrounding" effects from a news story. You all live in "Cloud Cuckoo Land".

Do you watch TV ? Watch News on the Web ? NO! You all live in your little ball of cotton wool, you "THINK" you live in. Grow up and stop trying to be "little town people".

Once again my deepest sympathy's to all those involved in this terrible crime.

How sad. My thoughts go out to the family.

Originally Posted by iceandsnow

Theres news and people want to know yes I appreciate that. But the houses shown are not involved with the incident, people do care and to be honest anyone would want to know if a murderer was running wild in their street, however it doesn't look as though this is the case here so why show peoples homes cars caravans etc when they are not involved?

The incident occurred in Lonsdale Rd. Yes?
The Photo shows Police vehicles in Lonsdale Rd. Yes?

Where's the problem?

My deepest sympathy to all those involved in this awful occurrence.

my deepest sympathys for any one involved :( very very sad 3(

Originally Posted by Humberding

There Has Been a 2nd murder on birch st so am told on facebook my deepest sympathys for any one involved :( very very sad 3(

My sister is on her way to work, so I called her to see if she had seen anything down birch street and she went that way to find birch street is closed from Warwick street to duke street. Police tape straight across pavements as well and a police car also still there.

This town is becoming the worst and scary to live in. Rip to both (if birch street murder is true, but looks like it)

My deepest sympathies to the family and friends of this poor lady.....yet again another thread has been turned into a circus and a farce......why can you people not just keep a thread simply to the subject which it is concerning??

Originally Posted by yummymummy22

id also love to know which local residents have said the above statement too.... i am a resident of the said street and know for a fact that the police have not said ANYTHING to anyone.....

everyones instant reaction is to see whats going on bt seriously have some bloody respect.... yes there has been an incident which is clearly serious but the resident of the house in question had children and a family, who regardless of the games of chinese whispers that have started from nowhere are probably distraught. its pretty sad that people are so quick to jump to conclusions, if anyone wants to know wats going on theres an officer stood outside the house.... take ur arse up there and ask them yourself instead of listening to hear say and adding your own details..... i know im not the only one who knows of this person from living on the street and are hoping for the best... thoughts go out to the family

I don't think anybody had actually been doing any of the above.
RIP to the poor lady.

R.I.P lovely lady xxx

Originally Posted by littlemum

My deepest sympathies to the family and friends of this poor lady.....yet again another thread has been turned into a circus and a farce......why can you people not just keep a thread simply to the subject which it is concerning??

Well said R

Am I missing something here - we complain when there is NO news on the site and then we complain when it IS reported!!!!!!

We do seem to be having a bit of a kicking on the crime front around Southport at the moment though - also on front page of midweek visiter there was a report of a burglary on Janes Brook Road again the victim being an elderly lady - it does make you wonder if the two are connected though.

BTW - is the road being closed in Birch St related to this incident or is that yet another crime?

If you want more details go on Liverpool echo