Two women found dead in house as man is arrested on suspicion of murder

The two women were found at a bungalow in Wath-Upon-Dearne
South Yorkshire Police have arrested a man on suspicion of murder
The area around the bungalow in Sandygate remains cordoned off

PUBLISHED: 10:17 EST, 23 July 2013 | UPDATED: 15:26 EST, 23 July 2013

Detectives have started a murder investigation after the bodies of two women were discovered at an address in South Yorkshire.

A cordoned off area on Sandygate remains closed this afternoon while inquiries continue at the scene.

A local man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is assisting police with inquiries.

South Yorkshire Police outside a house in Wath upon Dearne where the bodies of two women have been found

Neighbours of the detached bungalow said that the a pensioner who lived at the house with his wife and daughter was suffering from cancer.

One man, who did not wish to be named, said that he spoke to his neighbour last Thursday.

He said: 'I've spoken to him over the garden fence before but for the first time last Thursday he walked up the path to my house and told me if I saw any strange faces chopping the hedges not to worry because he had asked them to do it.

'He told me he had cancer which had spread to his bones, and that he was having chemotherapy.

'I told him I was sorry to hear that and we didn't say much more than that. That was the last time I saw him.

'They've been in the house at least 25 years.

Anyone with information should phone South Yorkshire Police on 101 quoting incident number 1035 of Monday, 22 July

'I would say "hi" to them now and again when we saw them in the garden but didn't really know them.'

Other neighbours told how the couple kept to themselves and had only one child.

The daughter, described as in her 30s and with ginger hair, would be seen walking to a nearby bus stop daily on her way to work.

Another neighbour, Doug Stinson, 69, said the police had been to his house to ask if he knew the family - and assured him there was 'nothing to worry about'.

Police and paramedics arrived at the scene at around tea time on Monday evening, neighbours told.

Post mortems on the women's bodies are expected to take place later to establish the cause of death but no further details have been released.

Anyone with information should phone South Yorkshire Police on 101 quoting incident number 1035 of Monday, 22 July, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.