DETECTIVES have issued a desperate plea for a dad to hand himself in after his partner and child were found murdered in their Hampshire home.

Police have stepped up the manhunt for Anthony Marsh, 21, who has not be seen or heard from since the bodies of Stephanie Bellinger, 24, and ten-month-old baby Lili were discovered in the semi-detached home in Myrtle Avenue, Totton on Saturday.

He has run off before and is known to travel by train and sleep rough or in churches.

In the past he has vanished and resurfaced as far afield as Brighton, Bristol, Portsmouth, Weymouth and Plymouth.

He is described as “dangerous” and members of the public are warned not to approach him but to call 999 immediately Leading the investigation Detective Jason Hogg said: “I would also urge Mr Marsh to seriously consider handing himself in to the nearest police station.”

The couple has another child, a two-year-old son, who cannot be named for legal reasons. They had been together for more than three years and had worked in the same New Forest hotel before Stephanie left to give birth to the boy.

Part of the cul-de-sac remains taped off with police officers guarding the front of the brick semi-detached house.

Flowers for Miss Bellinger and her daughter have been left at the scene by well-wishers. A message on one bouquet read: ''Such a waste of life. My heart goes out to all the family.

''Rest in peace little angels. Our deepest sympathy.''

Their bodies were found at 9.05am by a relative but neighbours say they heard shouting coming from the house the night before.

In a statement a Hampshire police spokesman said detectives are currently trying to establish the circumstances that led to the deaths.

The investigation has been called Operation Coachman and police and are appealing for anyone who may have information to contact them.

They particularly want to hear from witnesses who may have seen anyone enter or leave the house in an "agitated state" up to 36 hours before the bodies were found.

The coroner has been notified and a post-mortem examination of the woman’s body is expected to be carried out today and the baby’s body tomorrow.

A neighbour said: "We heard a commotion and shouting but we could not make it out.

"We assumed it was teenagers and then about 9am seven police cars turned up."

Meanwhile, another neighbour mother-of-one Leanne Rowe, 25, said: ''There was some noise about 8.30pm, a lot of shouting and then we could hear a car driving up.

''After that it was all quiet. It wasn't until this morning when we came down and saw the ambulance that we knew anything had happened.

''Lots of teenagers come through the park here so you do hear noise at weekends.''

Eighteen months ago 6ft 2ins Anthony sparked a police hunt when he vanished from the family home just before his son's first birthday.

At the time, his partner Stephanie issued an emotional plea for him to come home.

But the former British Gas customer relations advisor, was spotted days later in Weymouth where police brought him back to Totton to be reunited with his family. Today local councillor Di Brooks, a member of Totton and Eling Town Council, said it was ''absolutely horrendous'' news.

''It's not something you would expect,'' she said. ''I'm really, really shocked."

Mr Marsh is described as white and of slim build. He has short fair hair, brown eyes and a tattoo on his left forearm.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the investigation team in the Major Crime Suite at Hulse Road, Southampton, quoting Operation Coachman on 101 or the Crimestoppers charity line anonymously on 0800 555 111.