Son held over father's murder

The couple were found in their house in Oxton

Police have arrested a man on suspicion of murdering his father and trying to kill his mother in Merseyside.

Detectives had been hunting Mark O'Hare since his 51-year-old father John was found dead at the family home in Oxton, Birkenhead, at 2040 GMT on Wednesday.

They arrested the 25-year-old after a car they had been following crashed into a wall in Storeton Road, Birkenhead, on Thursday.

Mr O'Hare's 44-year-old wife, Dianne, was also found with serious head injuries at the couple's home in Birch Close.

Mr O'Hare was arrested after a crash

She is now described as poorly but stable by doctors at Walton's Neurosurgical Centre.

A post mortem examination of Mr O'Hare's body was due to take place on Thursday afternoon.

Neighbours have spoken of their shock at the driving instructor's death, describing him and his wife as "a lovely couple".

A Merseyside Police spokeswoman said there had been a heavy police presence in the town searching for Mr O'Hare, who lives in Birmingham.