Double murders shock holiday town

The community of Llangollen has been rocked by the killings

Residents of the picturesque north Wales market town of Llangollen have spoken of their "shock" at the brutal murders of two pensioners.

News of the discovery of the bodies of Elsie Davies and family friend Joseph Ashton filtered through the close-knit community throughout Wednesday.

Llangollen is a small, tourist town, with a population of 3,000 and hosts the International Musical Eisteddfod, which attracts 120,000 visitors.

Police forensic officers have combed the site for clues

Some believe the crime has tarnished the town's image as a charming holiday spot.

Mrs Davies, who was in her 80s, had been seen less about town in recent years, but the pensioner was known by many people.

Llangollen hotelier Robert Jakes has been comforting his wife, who had recently seen Mrs Davies.

"My wife cut her hair only last Tuesday and she is absolutely devastated by what has happened.

"In a community like this, the greatest paradise in the world, you do not expect something like this to happen, it always happen somewhere else."

The hotel has taken in one couple who were staying in a caravan at the holiday site run by Mrs Davies at Tower Farm.

Llangollen is popular with tourists

"They are on a walking holiday and had booked up for the next couple of weeks. They were extensively interviewed by police and the whole episode has been a bit too much for them.

Mr Jakes added: "I knew her (Mrs Davies) briefly, she came here for dinner once or twice. This is a great shock to the whole community."

Mr Ashton - from Warrington in Cheshire - helped Mrs Davies out on the farm.

Mayor of Llangollen Chris Tobin said people were "totally devastated" by what had happened.

"It is sad that two elderly citizens who were well respected should have to endure such an incident. It is senseless really and we find it hard to comprehend," he said.

"It is hard to think such a thing could happen to such nice people."

There was really no clear message to people about what was going on

Karen Sinclair AM

Mr Tobin added: "We used to see Mrs Davies around Llangollen now and again and this is a total nightmare for everybody."

The Reverend Wilf Jones, parish priest of Llangollen, had attended the wedding of Mrs Davies' niece three years ago.

"I visited Mrs Davies on occasions and was warmly welcomed. She was a very independent woman, but had a good sense of humour.

"You had to go to see her at the farm, you would not see her around town as such.

"We are a very close, friendly, open community and everyone here feels the same. When something as terrible as this happens, the phones ring, people call and there is concern."

Karen Sinclair AM: 'Put people at their ease'

North Wales AM Karen Sinclair, who lives a mile from the scene of the murders, said: "This is a very quiet, almost sleepy community, everyone knows one another and you do not expect this to happen.

"You think of it happening somewhere else and suddenly it is here on your doorstep. People have been very, very shocked."

Mrs Sinclair spoke of the concerns of the community in the wake of the murders.

"An awful lot of people have rung me saying they are very worried. I wonder if the police could have sent in a community officer to talk to people to put them slightly at their ease.

"There was a police helicopter still up and there was really no clear message to people about what was going on."