Police have launched a triple murder inquiry after finding a mother and her two young daughters dead in bed in East London.

The Metropolitan Police announced this morning that it is treating the deaths as murder after discovering the bodies of the 26-year-old woman and her daughters, aged six and three, at Nelson Street, East Ham, yesterday lunchtime.

Officers visited the two-bedroomed terraced house after being alerted by the woman's sister, who had not heard from her for nine days.

When officers got no response at the house they forced their way in, and found all three bodies together in an upstairs bedroom. All three were pronounced dead at the scene.

There were no signs of violence and there was no evidence of forced entry at the house, police said.

Officers believe that they know the identity of the family but will not release their names until relatives, some of whom live in Bangladesh, have been informed. The 26-year-old woman is reportedly known locally as Juli.

They are trying to trace the woman's estranged husband to inform him of the deaths. A post mortem examination is due to take place later today.

Yesterday, Nelson Street was sealed off as officers carried out their inquiries and removed the bodies.

Neighbour Nelson Bamweyana, 44, said the dead woman's sister visited him on Monday, after failing to hear from her for nine days. The pair of them got no response at the house and were struck by how cold it was, so decided to contact the police.

"I looked through the letter-box. I told her sister the house is very very cold," he said.

"I said to her sister, who hadn't seen her for a week and two days, if it's a long time like that you should go to the police."

He added: "I asked if she felt that her sister's life was in danger. She said 'no'."

Mr Bamweyana last saw the woman in September, when she was going on holiday with her mother.

He said: "She was happy. There was no sign of any worries."

A Metropolitan Police spokesman today confirmed the deaths were being treated as murder.

"Detectives are treating as murder the death of a 26-year-old woman and her two daughters aged five and six. A post mortem examination is due to be held later today," she said.

She added: "Officers from the Homicide and Serious Crime Command (East) are investigating and an incident room has been set up at Barking.

"Anyone with information should call the Incident Room on 020 8345 1570 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."

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