Knife found at Shropshire murder scene

A knife was recovered from a Shropshire beauty spot where the bodies of three children and their father were discovered, police revealed this afternoon.

Officers found the knife close to the bodies of 12-year-old Sam Fuller, Rebecca, eight, and Charlotte, seven, in woodland at Pontesbury Hill, near Shrewsbury.

Their father Ceri Fuller, 35, stabbed the youngsters before leaping more than 65ft to his death from a cliff at the disused quarry.

The children's mother Ruth Fuller said: "l don't have the words to describe how l feel at the moment. All l would ask is that l be left alone to grieve for my family."

David Fuller, father of Ceri Fuller, said that he had been left stunned by the tragedy.

"Ceri was a gentle, sensitive and intelligent man but also a very private one. He loved his children dearly and they were such a focal point of his life," he said.

The bodies of the children – described as 'little angels' – were found within 40 yards of each other at the quarry at Poles Coppice, on Monday – four days after the family was first reported missing from their home 75 miles away in Milkwall, Gloucestershire.

It is believed they may have lain undiscovered for several days around 300 yards from where Mr Fuller's abandoned red Land Rover Freelander was found.

Detectives have launched a murder inquiry, describing the deaths as a "tragic family situation" and are not looking for anyone else.

Detective Chief Inspector Neil Jamieson, said this afternoon: "A weapon has been recovered. Officers found a knife in the vicinity of where the bodies were found. It will now be forensically examined."

He added: "One line of inquiry being considered is that the father took the children's lives before taking his own."

Mr Jamieson said post mortems to establish the cause of death were being conducted this afternoon by a Home Office pathologist and may not be concluded until tomorrow. The deputy coroner for Shropshire, Mr Andrew Barkley, has been informed.

Detectives are trying to piece together a motive for the tragedy, as tributes poured in for the youngsters. Mrs Fuller, 34, an artist, had posted a message on Facebook a day before the family went missing about her 'bonkers midlife crisis'.

She said online:?'Very glad of the urge to reach out to people, loved that'.

And she was seen pacing outside the family house on the day her husband, a production supervisor, went missing with the children.

It is understood she is being comforted by relatives and specially trained police officers. Jo Ballard, 32, Mrs Fuller's sister and the children's auntie, today said: "The family are devastated and in shock."

The quarry and surrounding woodland on Pontesbury Hill remained cordoned off today as officers continued detailed searches of the area, with floral tributes for the youngsters growing by the hour.

A row of teddy bears and bouquets of flowers lay at the spot all with poignant messages to the children attached.

Detectives want to hear from anyone who may have seen the family or the Land Rover Freelander last week. The vehicle, CK51 YUV, had previously been spotted in Leominster, Shrewsbury and Welshpool.