Wife found in Derbyshire blast house was murdered, say police

A 45-year-old woman found dead with her husband after an explosion at their home was murdered, police said.

Officers believe Shelley Saxton-Cooper was wounded before the house was destroyed by an explosion and fire on Sunday morning.

Forensic teams are working to piece together the cause of the explosion and fire at the house in Valley View Road in Riddings, Derbyshire, in which her husband Simon Saxton-Cooper, also died.

Chief Superintendent Sunita Gamblin said: "We believe that Shelley, who was 45-years-old, was wounded before the explosion and fire and we are treating her death as murder.

"We're still unable to say how either she or her husband died as post mortem examinations haven't been completed.

"Police, crime scene investigators and fire investigation specialists are working through the scene of the fire to find out exactly how it started and what happened.

"We don't believe, at this time, that anyone else is involved."