Mystery at House

Body of wife found at arson house

About 100 police officers and staff are involved in the investigation
Police investigating a fire at the home of a millionaire businessman have confirmed one of two bodies found there is that of his wife.

A post-mortem examination has found Jillian Foster, 49, from Osbaston House in Maesbrook, Shropshire, died of a gunshot wound to the head.

Christopher Foster, 50, his wife and 15-year-old daughter, Kirstie, have been missing since Tuesday's fire.

The other body which was found is believed to be that of an adult man.

Formal identification of the body is expected to take some time.

The female body was positively identified from dental records as that of Jill Foster.

Police have confirmed they have launched a murder inquiry.

Gun cartridges

The bodies were found and recovered late on Friday.

A rifle, identified as a rifle that was legitimately owned by Mr Foster, was recovered near the two bodies, along with the body of a fourth dog.

Post-mortem examinations carried out on three horses and three dogs found in the outbuildings showed they had also been shot before the fire broke out.

Spent and unspent gun cartridges have been found scattered around the grounds of the property.

Supt Gary Higgins, from West Mercia police, said further tests were needed before it could be established whether the rifle recovered was the murder weapon.