A teenager has been arrested on suspicion of murdering two elderly women after attacking them as they slept in a nursing home.

Their bodies were discovered early yesterday in the bedroom they shared at the residential home in Leicester. The 19-year-old, a local man, was arrested at about 8.30pm.

The women had not been formally identified last night but police said that they had spoken to their relatives.

Police warned residents living near the Hayes Park nursing home to lock their doors and windows.

Staff at the home discovered the women’s bodies shortly before 4am.

As news of the killings spread, relatives of elderly people staying at the home arrived at the police cordon that had been set up, seeking to establish whether their loved ones had been hurt.

One 45-year-old man, who did not want to be named, said that his 75-year-old mother was a resident at the home, and that the management had telephoned him yesterday afternoon to inform him about the events. “Of course you worry about what’s happening,” he said.

Detective Superintendent Chris Thomas said: “Our inquiries are still in the very early stages but we are treating this as a double murder.” Mr Thomas, who is leading the investigation, added: “Much police work is going on at the nursing home to help in establishing the circumstances surrounding the deaths. We have cordoned off part of the building to allow for examinations of the scene and the area. We will be carrying out searches of the grounds and neighbouring streets.” Officers were speaking to the home’s residents to try to find out what had happened.

Mr Thomas said he did not want people to worry unnecessarily but he urged them to be vigilant, keep their doors and windows locked and report anything suspicious to the police.

The directors of Hayes Park nursing home said: “The staff have contacted relatives of residents to reassure them and to advise them that the home is operating as usual.

“The safety of our residents is our top priority and we will continue to fully co-operate with the police investigation.”

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