A man is being questioned on suspicion of the murder of two elderly women who were found dead in their homes.

The 43-year-old was held by detectives investigating a suspected "burglary gone wrong" after widow Margaret Biddolph, who was aged in her 80s, was found dead at her home in Lonsdale Road, Southport, on Tuesday.

Further inquiries led Merseyside Police to a house in nearby Birch Street, where they discovered the body of a second pensioner, named by neighbours as Annie Leyland.

Chief Superintendent Nikki Holland, Merseyside Police's area commander for Sefton, said: "Detectives from the force major incident team have launched a murder inquiry following the discovery of two bodies at two separate addresses in Southport.

"At this time, the causes of death have yet to be established and Home Office post-mortems will be carried out later.

"Both of the victims are women, believed to be in their 80s, although formal identification is still to take place.

"The families of both women have been contacted and family liaison officers have been appointed.

"A 43-year-old man from Southport has been arrested on suspicion of murder, and will be further interviewed in connection with the inquiry."

A neighbour described Mrs Biddolph as a "quiet, lovely woman" who she would often see tending her garden.

Marianne Lott, who lives opposite Mrs Biddolph's home, said: "She was very jolly and independent. She was in her 80s but that didn't stop her getting taxis out and about to get groceries or do some shopping."