The charred remains of teenage girl shot dead by her millionaire father were found in the area underneath her bedroom in the family’s mansion, an inquest heard today.

The bodies of ruined businessman Christopher Foster, his wife Jill and their daughter Kirsty, were found in their burnt out mansion in Maesbrook Shropshire last month.

Police believe Mr Foster, 50, set the family home alight and shot his wife, 49 before killing their 15-year-old daughter and committing suicide.

Detective Superintendent Jon Groves, who is leading the investigation, told the inquest that the remains of Chris and Jill Foster were found in the area below where their bedroom had been. Their bodies were so burnt forensic scientists had to use DNA testing and dental records to identify them.

John Ellery, the coroner, opened the inquest this morning and adjourned the brief hearing to a later date, yet to be set, to allow the police investigation to continue.

Mrs Foster died from a gunshot wound to the head, but the causes of death for her husband and their daughter have not been established.

Extensive CCTV footage recovered from Osbaston House showed a man police strongly believed to be Mr Foster firing a rifle at a horsebox as his house burned in the early hours of August 26.

Police are carrying out tests on a rifle recovered from the house to establish whether it was the murder weapon.

Mr Foster’s business empire had was in ruin and he appears to have gone on the rampage rather than see the trappings of his luxury lifestyle - including horses, cars and a £1.2 million mansion – seized by bailiffs.

His company, Ulva Limited, a supplier of insulation pipes to oil rigs, went bankrupt with debts of £2million, eradicating his wealth and passing the ownership of his property into the hands of his creditors.

A Court of Appeal judge had said Foster was “bereft of the basic instincts of commercial morality” and was not to be trusted.

On August Bank Holiday Monday he appeared relaxed at a barbecue with friends in the village. The family left for the short walk home across the fields at about 8.30pm. The blaze at the mansion broke out in the early hours of the following day.

The inquiry is likely to last several months.

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