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UK children found dead in Corfu UK children found dead in Corfu
(10 minutes later)
Two British children have been found dead in a hotel room on the island of Corfu, Greek police have said.Two British children have been found dead in a hotel room on the island of Corfu, Greek police have said.
Their father and his partner were found unconscious in the same hotel room and are now in comas in hospital.Their father and his partner were found unconscious in the same hotel room and are now in comas in hospital.
It is not known how Robert Shepherd, six, and sister Christianne, seven, died but a local coroner suggested they may have consumed some kind of poison. It is not known how Robert Shepherd, six, and sister Christianne, seven, died but police are investigating whether they were poisoned.
The family, from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, were found by a cleaner in a hotel in the village of Gouvia.The family, from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, were found by a cleaner in a hotel in the village of Gouvia.
The Foreign Office confirmed the father's name is Neil Shepherd and the woman, Ruth Beatson, is his partner. Next of kin have been informed. The Foreign Office confirmed the father's name is Neil Shepherd and his partner is Ruth Beatson.
The coroner is due to carry out a post-mortem examination on the children on Friday. A police spokesman said post mortems were to be held on Friday morning.
He added: "The stomach contents of all the four people have been sent to a university on the mainland for toxicology tests to be done.
"We hope to get the results back after two or three days, to confirm if it is poison."
'Suicide pact''Suicide pact'
He told Greek television news there was evidence a strong poison had been consumed. Earlier the coroner told Greek television news there was evidence a strong poison had been consumed, and the children may have been dead for 10 hours when they were found.
He said the children may have been dead for 10 hours when they were found.
Their father, 38, and 28-year-old partner are in the intensive care unit of a local hospital, where they are said to be in a serious condition.Their father, 38, and 28-year-old partner are in the intensive care unit of a local hospital, where they are said to be in a serious condition.
The family were on holiday over the half-term breakThe family were on holiday over the half-term break
The BBC's Malcolm Brabant, in Athens, said one line of inquiry for police to investigate was whether the deaths were the result of a suicide pact made by the parents.The BBC's Malcolm Brabant, in Athens, said one line of inquiry for police to investigate was whether the deaths were the result of a suicide pact made by the parents.
He said hotel staff suggested there had been nothing wrong with the family in the days leading up to the deaths.He said hotel staff suggested there had been nothing wrong with the family in the days leading up to the deaths.
They were reported to be on a week's holiday booked with Thomas Cook during the school half-term break.They were reported to be on a week's holiday booked with Thomas Cook during the school half-term break.
A spokesman for the travel agency said: "At this stage it is not possible to speculate on the causes, however we are working closely with the hospital and the police to gain further information and to support the family.A spokesman for the travel agency said: "At this stage it is not possible to speculate on the causes, however we are working closely with the hospital and the police to gain further information and to support the family.
"Thomas Cook expresses its deepest sympathy at this time.""Thomas Cook expresses its deepest sympathy at this time."
The Louis Corcyra hotel, where the family were found, is located in Gouvia, a small fishing village about five miles north of Corfu town. It is considered to be a relatively upmarket destination.The Louis Corcyra hotel, where the family were found, is located in Gouvia, a small fishing village about five miles north of Corfu town. It is considered to be a relatively upmarket destination.