Man charged with murder of couple 'stabbed to death on canal boat in middle of the night'

William Cranston has been remanded in custody and will appear in court tomorrow morning.

The victims had allegedly been drinking with Mr Cranston in the hours leading up to their deaths.

Suspected murder: A policeman stands guard at The Grand Union Canal in Stoke Hammond, Bucks, where two bodies have been found on board a canal barge

It is believed the victims were both stabbed as police were refusing to name them today - the pair's formal identifications are due to take place after today's post-mortem examinations.

But it is understood they are Mr Cranston's partner, named locally only as Kay, and a friend, named locally as Paul, who was staying with the couple on the boat.

The immediate area surrounding the red-painted vessel remained cordoned off this afternoon as officers continued their investigation into the murders.

Mr Cranston and his partner had been temporarily moored at the spot, where they lived with their three-year-old son, friends said today.

Murder scene: The canal barge, named 'Secret', where the bodies were found

Today, the sequence of events in the hours before the killings began to emerge.

A boater moored about 200 yards from the crime scene said he knew the couple.

He said: "They are normal, happy-go-lucky boaters,"

They lived on the canal boat, he claimed, and the second man, whom he named as Paul, was staying with them.

Bill, said to be an electrician, was at work on Saturday afternoon when Kay, Paul and the child made their way to a local public house.

Bill followed them there a short time later. It is thought the group then returned to the boat with more alcohol in the early evening. The little boy was put to bed and they continued to party.

The emergency services were contacted at about 12.35am the following morning.

Yesterday, a police spokesman said it was the suspect who had called the ambulance service following the attacks.

Witnesses said they saw three men, a woman and a boy at the scene in the days before the incident

A friend of Kay and Bill, who would only identify himself as Mick said: "I'm shocked. I just came down here to find out more. I live on a boat. I know them (the couple on the boat) as Kay and Bill.

"I knew Kay through old work. They have been moving around (on the boat) for months.
I knew they were looking for a permanent mooring.

"I haven't seen them for a couple of months. I am just an old friend who keeps in touch from time to time. I am trying to find their family."

Mick claims Bill was an electrician, and Kay a housewife.

Thames Valley Police said the man in custody and the two people who died were all from the Milton Keynes area.

Post-mortem examinations were due to take place today. The families of the victims have been informed.