POLICE discovered the first of two bodies at a house in Littlemore, Oxford, after being contacted by Environmental Health, it has emerged.

The body of a woman in her 50s was found at the property in Cowley Road last week. That was only made public today, and then the body of a woman in her 70s was discovered.

Det Insp John Turner, investigating the discovery of the women's bodies in Cowley Road, said police were contacted by concerned Environmental Health officers last week.

He said: “When we turned up it appeared there had not any movement for some time. We entered the house and discovered a body.”

The detective said the body found was that of the woman in her 50s. He said the death was being treated as unexplained but not suspicious.

DI Turner said after further investigation officers went inside the home again today and found the body of the woman in her 70s. He said the death was currently being treated as unexplained.

He said: “If someone has been dead for a long period of time and no one had known, I find the circumstances very sad.”

A post mortem examination of the first woman has failed to determine the cause of the death.

Police had to postpone examining the house until today after it was deemed structurally unsound.

After steel supports were put in to hold up the roof, police began searching the property.

DI Turner said: “There continues to be nothing at this stage to suggest these deaths are suspicious.

“Investigations are now being carried out to determine the circumstances.”

It is believed that the woman in her 50s shared the house with her mother.