A BIRMINGHAM businessman is at the centre of a police manhunt over the murders of a family of four found stabbed to death in their home.

Police said Anxiang Du, aged 52, was being sought in connection with the deaths of the family, named locally as college lecturer Jifeng Ding, his wife Helen Chui, and daughters Alice, 12 and Xing, 18.

They were found dead on Sunday night after concerned neighbours raised the alarm and police forced their way into the family home in Wootton, Northampton.

Mr Du, who lived in Coventry and worked at a Chinese herbal medicine shop in Birmingham, was said to have had complex business dealings with Ms Chui, who was also thought to run a herbal medicine business.

Police urged the public not to approach him.

Northamptonshire Police said Mr Du was believed to run a business in the Pavilions shopping centre. Natural Care herbal medicine store where Mr Du is understood to work was closed yesterday. Neighbouring shopkeepers said it had been closed since Saturday.