A dad who killed himself after murdering his two young children had just separated form his partner, it has been revealed today.

A major police investigation was under way today following the gruesome discovery of the bodies of the man and the girls, aged just one and three, in the grounds of a Southampton car sales garage last night.

The Daily Echo understands the man, aged in his 30s, had recently split up with his partner and had spent yesterday with his daughters before murdering them.

It is believed he smothered the girls inside a caravan in the grounds at the back of the garage, in Paynes Road, where he had been living since the separation.