Police name hotel murder victims

Police name hotel murder victims

Detectives have described the attack as "ferocious"

A mother and her two sons found stabbed to death at their seaside hotel have been named by police.

Patricia Jarvis, 36, and her two sons - John, 11, and Stuart, eight - were found dead at the Winslow Hotel in Hull Road, Blackpool, at 0730 GMT on Thursday.

A 42-year-old man, believed to be the children's father, is under arrest at the town's Victoria Hospital where he is being treated for serious injuries.

A 13-year-old girl, thought to be related to the South African family, was also found at the hotel but was unhurt.

Officers are still waiting to question the man about the attack, which they have described as "ferocious".

Knife recovered

A spokeswoman for Lancashire Police said on Friday that the man's injuries are not life-threatening.

The woman and the two boys all suffered fatal stab wounds and a knife was later recovered from the scene.

Detective Superintendent Ian Jones said: "The fact that three people died in what appears to be one incident makes it a fairly ferocious attack."

The family, who owned the guest house, had only been in Blackpool for a few months.