A mother in China has killed herself and her two young children, aged six and three, in a murder-suicide tragedy, according to Chinese reports.

The 28-year-old woman, named Shi Chunmei, posted a suicide note on social media on Sunday night saying she could no longer cope with her 'phony' parents-in-law.

Chilling surveillance footage has emerged showing the mother carrying her younger son on one arm while holding the hand of her elder son as they walked along a river in Zhangzhou, Fujian province.

Chilling footage has emerged showing the mother carrying her younger son on one arm while holding the hand of her elder son as they walked along a river in Zhangzhou, Fujian province

Three days after the mother posted the suicide note, their bodies were found in a river near Shazhou town, about 15 kilometres (9.3 miles) away from their home in Jiaomei town

Three days later, their bodies were found in a river near Shazhou, about 15 kilometres (9.3 miles) away from their home in Jiaomei town.

Shi's husband, Huang Tianfa, reported her and their children missing after seeing her note on WeChat, according to The Paper.

'All of this was solely caused by my in-laws. I want to show everyone that they are the phoniest people ever,' Shi wrote in her note, adding that she did not make 'this decision on the spur of the moment'.

She also accused her parents-in-law of treating her and her children poorly and constantly insulting her behind her back for the past seven years.

'All of this was caused by my in-laws. I want to show everyone that they are the phoniest people ever,' Shi wrote in her note, adding she did not make 'this decision on the spur of the moment'

Shi's husband, Huang Tianfa (right), reported her and their children missing after seeing her note on WeChat, according to The Paper. He said he and Shi had a happy marriage

'I'm sorry, I'm taking your beloved sons with me,' she wrote, apologising to her husband.

Huang told reporters that he and Shi had a happy marriage, but admitted that his wife did not have a good relationship with his parents.

'They are always arguing, but it's all over trivial matters. There was never a big fight,' he said.

A team of 160 rescuers were despatched to search for the missing mother and children after an investigation showed they were last seen near a bridge at a construction site in Shazhou town.

Witnesses say they saw the family of three near a bridge at a construction site in Shazhou town

A team of 160 rescuers were despatched to search for the missing mother and her children

They first discovered the body of the six-year-old in the river at 8:35am on Wednesday, then the woman's body three hours later. The team finally found the youngest child at 12:05pm

They first discovered the body of the six-year-old in the river at 8:35am on Wednesday, then the woman's body three hours later.

The team eventually found the remains of the youngest child at 12:05pm, The Paper reported.

Their exact cause of death remains under investigation, local police said. Rescuers have also offered counselling to the victim's family members.

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