This article is more than 8 months old

This article is more than 8 months old

Police have arrested a man on suspicion of murdering two people at a house in the village of Duffield in Derbyshire.

The murder investigation was launched after Derbyshire constabulary were called to a house in New Zealand Lane at 4.11am on Wednesday, where they found a man and a woman fatally injured.

A 39-year-old man was arrested on the scene on suspicion of two counts of murder and remains in custody. Officers confirmed that there were no other people present in the property at the time.

One of the victims has been widely named in the media as Helen Almey, 39, and it is believed that the other victim was her partner of six months. Almey had three children under 10 with her estranged husband. A former student at Loughborough University, Almey was a part-time PE teacher and locals said she played a key role in the community, helping out with the neighbourhood watch and playing for sport teams.

A car was seen being taken away by police from New Zealand Lane at around 2pm and a forensic tent was erected within the security cordon during the morning.

The East Midlands Ambulance Service said: “We received a call at 4.30am … from our colleagues in Derbyshire police requesting medical assistance at a private address in Duffield.

“We sent a paramedic in a car and two crewed ambulances.”

In a later statement, Derbyshire constabulary said: “Detectives investigating what happened at the house in New Zealand Lane have said they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths and there was no one else in the property at the time.

“Formal identification of the victims has yet to take place and specially trained liaison officers are supporting their families.”

New Zealand Lane has been closed while police investigate and they have thanked residents for their patience and understanding.