Chinese pair found dead in flat

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Police working in the street where the couple lived

A murder investigation is under way after two Chinese students were found dead at a flat in Newcastle's West End.

The man and woman were found lying on beds in separate rooms at the ground floor flat in Croydon Road on Saturday.

Post-mortem examinations showed the man had died from "massive" head injuries. The woman had head injuries and "may have been asphyxiated".

They have not yet been formally identified, as police are still tracing their next of kin.

Northumbria Police said that for the woman, a "conclusive cause of death will have to await further tests".

A police source described the scene as "gruesome".

Car removed

The deaths have caused shock in the suburban area, which is popular with students and Asian families.

I am very shocked, I cannot see if we should live in this area any more Ishaopeng Wu, Chinese student

The street has been cordoned off, and students arrived at the cordon throughout Sunday to check on friends.

Ishaopeng Wu, 31, a Chinese student at Newcastle University who has lived in the area for four years, said he was shocked by the deaths.

"I cannot see if we should live in this area any more," he said.

"It is a tough area, but convenient for the university. I cannot believe this has happened."

Extra police patrols have been put on duty in an attempt to reassure residents, and officers plan to speak to local community leaders.

On Saturday night police removed a silver hatchback car on a covered lorry.

Police urged anyone with any information to contact them.