Police hunt double murder suspect

Police have warned that Mark Hobson could be dangerous

A nationwide police manhunt continued on Wednesday for a suspect in two double murders.

Dustman Mark Hobson, 34, is wanted in connection with the deaths of twin sisters Claire and Diane Sanderson in Camblesforth, North Yorkshire.

Police also believe he was involved in the deaths of pensioners James and Joan Britton, found dead 25 miles away.

Detectives are still investigating if there is any link between the 27-year-old sisters and the elderly couple.

Murders are very rare in North Yorkshire, so to have two double murders is unheard of Roger Baker North Yorkshire Deputy Chief Constable

North Yorkshire Deputy Chief Constable Roger Baker said about 100 officers were working on the case and Mr Hobson's description had been distributed to all UK forces and to ports and airports.

Claire Sanderson was Mr Hobson's girlfriend. She and her sister were found dead on Sunday, about 0800 BST, in a flat he had lived in for three months.

Detectives said Diane had been strangled after visiting her sister, who had suffered from a "violent assault".

"Clearly we want to speak to him (Hobson) about four murders," Deputy Chief Constable Baker said.

"Murders are very rare in North Yorkshire, so to have two double murders is unheard of," he said.

While warning the public not to approach Mr Hobson, he added: "I want to reassure the public we're doing everything possible to bring this person or these persons responsible for these murders to justice as quickly and as safely as possible."

The bodies of Mr Britton, 80, and his 82-year-old wife were found in their house by a neighbour several hours after the twins were discovered.

Mr Britton died from stab wounds and his wife had been the subject of a "vicious assault including stab wounds".

Diane (l) was strangled and her sister viciously assaulted

Officers have been told a man matching Mr Hobson's description was seen near the Brittons' home in Strensall.

Det Supt Javad Ali said: "They were a frail and harmless couple who had lived there for many years.

"We have not established any previous association between the Brittons and the Sandersons.

"As a result of our inquiries, we now have a confirmed sighting of Mark Hobson in the Wiggington area of York at about 0200 BST on Sunday.

"We have now established a possible sighting of a man whose description is similar to that of Mark Hobson in the Strensall area at 0915 BST that Sunday morning.

Parental plea

"This, together with other evidence recovered from both scenes, indicates that the two incidents may well be linked."

He renewed his appeal for anyone with information about Hobson's whereabouts to contact them urgently but warned the public not the approach him.

The twins' parents, George and Jacqueline Sanderson, issued a brief statement appealing for help from the public.

It said: "Words cannot express how we feel about the sudden and unexplained deaths of our two beautiful daughters, Claire and Diane.

"We would urge anyone who has any information which could assist the police in their investigation to contact them."