A policeman is being comforted by relatives after the bodies of his heavily-pregnant wife and son were found at the family home.
Traffic officer Gary MacMartin, 34, was at work when the bodies of his wife Lucy Anne, 33, and six-year-old Sam, were found at their house in Longton, near Preston, Lancashire.
Police are investigating the possibility that Mrs MacMartin, who was more than seven months pregnant, smothered her son in his bedroom before cutting her own throat. A police spokeswoman said they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths.
The family had previously lived in Sevenoaks, Kent, where Mr MacMartin worked in the traffic department for Kent Police.
Chief Superintendent Paul Harry, of Lancashire Constabulary's Southern Division, said Mr MacMartin was trying to come to terms with the deaths of his wife, son and unborn child.
"This is obviously a personal tragedy for Gary and not surprisingly he is still coming to terms with his tragic loss.
"Our main concern must be for his welfare and he is being supported by friends, colleagues and our welfare staff," he said.
A next door neighbour of the MacMartins said: "They were a lovely, wonderful, family.
"This is a great shock to us and a great shock to immediate neighbours of the family. We all sympathise with Mr MacMartin".