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British couple named after deaths at French home

Facebook Andrew and Dawn Searle smile for the camera while standing outside - she is wearing a blue top with her arms stretched out wide, while he has a grey jacket/top on and is also smilingFacebook
Andrew and Dawn Searle had moved to France from Scotland several years ago

A British couple have been found dead in their home in south west France.

Andrew and Dawn Searle, who moved to France from Scotland several years ago, were found dead by their neighbour.

The mayor of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, Jean-Sébastien Orcibal, told French television that the deaths were "clearly a homicide".

The couple are understood to have lived in the hamlet of Les Pesquiès, south of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, for several years.

Mr Orcibal told BBC News the cause of the death was still unclear but it was not a "family tragedy", meaning they didn't take their own lives or kill each other.

He had earlier dismissed speculation the deaths were due to a burglary "gone wrong", and said "no knife was found".

France Télévision Forensics officers taking boxes either to or from the boots of a car, with another car with its boot open next to them. Trees and bushes are all around them.France Télévision
Forensics officers spent Thursday searching the scene of the crime

The couple's bodies were found by the neighbour at around 12.20, after they did not arrive to walk their dogs together as they had planned.

The BBC understands that when the neighbour went to check on them at their house she found the bodies.

Mr Orcibal said the couple - in their 60s - had become "very well integrated" in the village and that they used to regularly invite neighbours for a drink.

The mayor added he had the pleasure to marry them during summer 2023, and Mr Searle had worn a kilt for the wedding.

Mr Searle is understood to have worked in financial crime prevention at Standard Life and Barclays banks during his career.

France Télévision A home with white walls, surrounded by trees and hedgesFrance Télévision
The bodies were discovered early on Thursday afternoon

A helicopter, a drone, criminal investigation technicians and a forensic doctor were all seen at the home throughout Thursday.

The Rodez prosecutor, Nicolas Rigot-Muller, in charge of the investigation, has still not commented on the case.

Les Pesquiès has around 100 residents and the area is popular with expats.

A spokesperson for the UK's Foreign Office said: "We are supporting the family of a British couple who died in France and are liaising with the local authorities".