A 45-year-old father has been found hanging today after police broke into his home to discover his wife and their twin daughters dead.

Police forced entry into the house in Grove Road, Chadwell Heath, on Tuesday just after 1pm after neighbours expressed concerns about the family.

Officers found the bodies of a woman, believed to be 37, and two twin girls, aged 13, who went to Chadwell Heath Academy.

Detectives have now launched an investigation into the death of the family, who were last seen on Sunday May 10.

The man, who was missing from the same address, was found hanging at Woodford Reservoir, Walthamstow at 8.17am today.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

A forensic and specialist examination is ongoing at the scene.

A police spokesman said: “This afternoon detectives are now able to confirm that they are confident that he is the man they were trying to trace.

“Formal identification has not taken place and next of kin have not been informed.

“However, we believe we know the identity of the deceased and believe their relationship to be mother, father and twin daughters.”

Post-mortem examinations will start later today.

The police spokesman added: “We will not speculate on cause of death, however the female bodies have no signs of visible injuries.”

Det Sup Kenny McDonald, who is overseeing the investigation from the Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: “At this stage we are awaiting the outcome of the post-mortems to confirm cause of death, which will provide further evidence of what has taken place inside the house at Grove Road.

“However, at this stage in our ongoing investigation we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths.”

Det Sup McDonald said extensive enquiries were being made to trace next of kin, who police believed to be live outside the UK.

Police attended the address in Grove Road late on the evening of Monday May 11, but there was no response and no signs of any disturbance.

Chadwell Heath Academy, in Christie Gardens, Romford, today released a statement on hearing the news.

It read: “We are deeply saddened by this tragic event. Our thoughts and sympathies are with all who knew the family.

“We are doing all that is necessary to support the staff and the pupils through this sad time.”