Arrest after woman found dead and man critically injured at house

A murder investigation has been launched after the body of a woman and a critically injured man were found at a house in Essex.

The victims, both in their fifties, were discovered by police responding to reports of an assault at a property in Chelmsford in the early hours of Sunday.

The injured man was taken to hospital where he is undergoing treatment for "serious life-threatening injuries".

A local man has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

An Essex Police spokesman said: "Officers were contacted at 1.30am this morning with reports of a man being assaulted inside a house in Pines Road.

"Units attended to find a woman aged in her fifties deceased and a man, also in his fifties, with serious life-threatening injuries.

"A 31-year-old man from Chelmsford has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is in police custody.

"The injured man is currently at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford."

The murder probe is being led by Detective Inspector Ellis, from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate.

Anyone with information is asked to call 101.