Man wanted in Southport double murder probe is from Burnley (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Barry Morrow wanted in Southport double murder probe is from Burnley

9:30am Tuesday 6th December 2011 in News By Vanessa Cornall, Reporter

THE man being hunted by police in connection with the murder of a mother and daughter from Southport is from Burnley.

Police are searching for Barry Morrow after the bodies of Avon lady Angela Holgate, 54, and her 75-year-old mother Alice Huyton were found by a relative on Saturday evening.

Following a post-mortem examination, Merseyside Police confirmed that both victims found at Mrs Holgate's home near Southport died from asphyxiation.

A murder investigation has now been launched and detectives are searching for 51-year-old Morrow, who was a lodger at Mrs Holgate's home.

Detectives believe he may hold information vital to the investigation but fear he may have fled the country after being spotted in France.

Morrow was last seen in Calais on the Saturday evening after apparently driving there in Mrs Holgate's white Citroen, with the registration PN11 RWK.

Officers believe Morrow, who grew up in Brush Street, Burnley, may be travelling to Spain.

His cousin Peter Astbury, 64, of Coal Clough Lane, Burnley, said he was shocked to see his cousin’s face on the news and urged him to hand himself in.

Mr Astbury said: “I was really shocked when I saw Barry’s face on the news.

“He had put on some weight since I last saw him but it was undeniably him.

“I wouldn’t say we were close, but I did see a fair bit of him as a kid.

“Barry used to work in a pub at the bottom of Cog Lane and he also used to work the night shift somewhere as a joiner."

Mr Astbury said his mum Elsie had died when Mr Morrow was in his 20s and his dad had died a number of years before that.

He said: "After that he used to move around a lot. He even lived in London at one stage.

“I think he is on his way to his sister Pamela’s house. She lives in Spain.

“He should hand himself in though now. He is just making it worse for himself.”

Morrow was last seen in Burnley town centre three years ago.

Merseyside Chief Superintendent Nikki Holland, area commander for Sefton, appealed to the public for information.

She said: "In particular, we are keen to trace Mr Morrow, who lived at the house for a period of time and who we believe may have vital information for this investigation."

Mr Morrow is described as white, 5ft 7in, of medium to stocky build, with straight, short brown hair that is receding, and blue eyes.

Mrs Holgate's Citroen is also missing.

Police sources confirmed that Mr Morrow was 'known to the police'.

Mrs Huyton was last seen on Friday evening when she left her home in Southport to visit her daughter.

Divorced Mrs Holgate, the mother of two adult daughters, had been ill and had not been seen out of the house for the previous week.

Mrs Holgate's son-in-law went to the property on Saturday when nothing was heard from the women, and the bodies were found.

Police said the two women were found together but would not say where in the house they were found.

They confirmed that the "indication" from the post-mortem was that Mrs Holgate died before her mother, but it has not been established how long before.

Police said the house did not appear to have been burgled. Officers were called to the scene at around 5.45pm.

Mrs Huyton was married and her husband, thought to be in his 80s, was said to be "devastated" at news of the deaths.

Stunned neighbours described Ms Holgate as a "lovely, quiet woman".

She had lived in the house for around 20 years.