Man and two children found dead (From Witney Gazette)

Man and two children found dead

1:23pm Monday 1st October 2012 in National News © Press Association 2013

The family of two children whose bodies were found with their father's in a countryside lane have spoken of their devastation.

The bodies of Michael, 51, Ben, seven, and Freya Pedersen, six, were found next to a Saab 900SE convertible car in the tiny lane at Newton Stacey, near Andover, Hampshire, at 6.15pm on Sunday.

The children's maternal grandfather, William Clifford, 67, from Buckinghamshire, speaking outside his daughter Erica's home in Ashford, Middlesex, said: "We are obviously devastated and what we would ask is that you respect our privacy in this matter. It is extremely distressing and that is all I want to say."

Five police officers are on duty outside the address.

Detective Superintendent Tony Harris, of Hampshire police, said that the "tragic incident" happened during a visit to Mr Pedersen's father during an arranged visit with his children from his estranged wife.

Mr Harris said that Surrey Police were considering referring the case to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) because of some previous contact with Mr Pedersen.

Mr Harris said the mother of the two children had alerted Surrey Police after Mr Pedersen, of Chertsey, Surrey, failed to return with the children at the arranged time of 5pm.

He said he believed the deaths happened at some point during the afternoon.

Mr Harris said: "A Home Office pathologist visited the scene and at this time it appears the children suffered fatal stab wounds and Mr Pedersen took his own life shortly afterwards."

He added: "They were visiting relatives in Andover, which is nearby. It was the father of Mr Pedersen, the grandfather of the children."