Husband and wife in their 80s found dead inside home as cops launch probe

A HUSBAND and wife, both aged 83, have been found dead inside a home in Norfolk.

Police have launched an investigation after the pair, named locally as Alexander and Helen Lawrie, were found dead at the property in Cromer on Monday evening.

Cops were called to The Warren just before 7.30pm yesterday evening, alongside the ambulance service.

Officers found the unresponsive elderly man and woman - who were said to have been in poor health recently - inside the home.

Their next of kin have been informed, police said.

The pair were today described as “friendly, warm and sociable" after being found dead by a neighbour and Mrs Lawrie’s carer.

Neighbours said Mrs Lawrie, a retired hairdresser, had become increasingly frail and had used a wheelchair for around 18 months.

Mr Lawrie, a retired electrical engineer, was said to have spent a night in hospital around two weeks ago.

The couple are said to have had three sons who do not live locally and a number of grandchildren.

Norfolk Police said they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the tragedy.

One neighbour said: “Helen was extremely ill and had a carer coming round in the morning to get her up, and again to put her to bed at night.

“He was very active until recently, but around a fortnight ago he felt unwell and called an ambulance which took him to hospital in Norwich where he spent the night.

“They were professional and successful, well-educated people. He was always smartly dressed with a nice shirt on.

“This is a very close-knit community in the road, and they had lived here for a very long time. We are all thinking of them very fondly.

“I can’t imagine what he went through in the last few hours of his life.

TRAGIC FIND

“They were friendly, warm and sociable. He was big into golf and played at the Royal Cromer Golf Club.

“I think he still socialised up there when he could get care in for Helen. He had an electric bike and would go out on it socially with another chap on a Friday.

“He would always have a cheery hello for everyone and had a good sense of humour.

“When Helen was well, she enjoyed flower arranging with the Cromer Flower Club. But she had deteriorated a lot, both physically and mentally.”

Another neighbour added: “It is such a shame. They were a lovely couple. There is a big party for all the neighbours held in the road every summer and they always went.”

Senior Investigating Officer DI Chris Burgess of Norfolk Police says: “Our investigation is in its early stages.

"However, we believe that those involved are known to one another and we are not currently seeking anyone else in relation to this investigation.

"A police cordon is in place at the property and detectives will carry out further enquiries to establish the full circumstances leading up to this incident.”