Five arrested over double murder

The devoted couple had been married more than 40 years

Five people are being questioned in connection with the murder of an elderly couple at their Kent home.

The bodies of Terry Martin, 72, and his wife, Vera, 78, were discovered in Abbey Street, Faversham, on Wednesday.

The two adults and three juveniles were arrested after officers served a number of search warrants at several addresses in the town on Friday morning.

Earlier post-mortem examination results showed the couple suffered multiple injuries in a violent attack.

Police said their home had shown signs that a struggle had taken place.

Car burned out

The couple were last seen alive at lunchtime on Saturday, and detectives have been examining whether they were the victims of a bungled robbery.

Officers said no further details of their injuries would be made public at this stage.

Their car, a purple Daihatsu Sirion, was found burned out just over a mile away from their home in the Bysing Wood Road area of the town on Monday evening.

Their murders have been described as an "extremely distasteful crime" by Det Ch Insp Dean Barnes.

Terry and Vera Martin had lived in the house since they were married

He also revealed there were no signs of a forced entry into the house, but it appeared to have been searched.

He described the couple as frail, adding that more than one person was probably involved in a struggle with them.

Speaking on Friday, Mr Barnes repeated his appeal for information relating to the murder of Mr and Mrs Martin.

"People we've spoken to tell us they were a lovely couple who made their home in Faversham and had been happily married for more than 40 years.

"They were well known and liked.

"There are people out there who will have information we need to solve what was an appalling double murder of an elderly couple," he said.