Pub-goers plea over double murder

Drinkers are being urged to contact police following the murder of two women at a suspected massage parlour.

The women, one aged in her 20s and one in her 40s, were found with severe head injuries in a downstairs room at a premises in Frankwell, Shrewsbury.

Shropshire police want about 30 people who were at the Wheatsheaf pub next door on Saturday night to get in touch.

Post-mortem tests are to be carried out on the bodies later. Police are trying to find a motive for the murders.

Det Ch Insp Sheila Thornes, of West Mercia Police, said the public will play a vital role in finding the killer.

"We believe there are a further 30 or so drinkers who were at the pub on Saturday evening that we need to speak to and I would urge them to get in touch," she said.

More than 40 police officers are investigating the murder

"In particular, at least four people - two men and two women - remained in the pub's beer garden after the premises closed."

One of the men was wearing a purple bandanna and said he had taken part in a pirate re-enactment.

It is thought a number of players from Quayside Cricket Club were in the pub following a game with a team from Wellington.

Officers are carrying out house-to-house inquiries and are also checking CCTV footage for clues. The scene may remain closed for many days.

Police said neither woman has yet been identified.

Women 'came and went'

The alarm was raised by two members of the public who discovered the victims and flagged down a police patrol at about 0245 BST on Sunday.

Local Conservative councillor Judith Williams, who has a business in the same street in Frankwell, said she thought she knew the older victim.

"We knew her as Annie and she travelled down from Manchester every day to Frankwell," she said.

"She was the receptionist at the property. She'd been working there for many years.

"She was the oldest lady that worked there. The others were young women who came and went."

More than 40 officers and staff are involved in the investigation.