A MARRIED couple found murdered in their Birmingham home were the victim of a “horrendous” assault, the police officer in charge of the hunt for their killers said.

The bodies of Avtar Kolar, 62, and his wife of 40 years, Carole, 58, were discovered by their detective son Jason at 8am yesterday, following concerns that they could not be contacted.

Today forensic scientists and scene of crime experts continued with their meticulous search of the smart end-row semi-detached property in Friary Road, Handsworth Wood.

Shocked neighbours said Mr Kolar, known locally as Tari and who is believed to have worked as a florist, had been seen washing his car on Tuesday.

West Midlands Police said the last contact anyone had with the murder victims was at about 7.15pm the night before, when a relative spoke to Carole.

But hours later the couple, who had four children and eight grandchildren, were found dead.

Movements in the tree-lined road during that 12-hour period were now key to the investigation, police said.

Murder detectives said it was “obvious from the scene that the couple had been assaulted” and had more than likely died of their injuries.

However, post-mortem examinations on the bodies to determine the cause of death were not expected to take place until today or tomorrow.

Det Supt Rich Baker, leading the inquiry, codenamed Operation Tiler, said: “It was a horrendous incident – any incident where a son walks in and finds their parents assaulted and dead would be horrendous.”

However, he remained resolute in the face of a double murder investigation, adding “I am confident we will catch the people responsible for this.”

Keeping an open mind about the motive, he said police had not yet identified any suspects.