Two men discovered lying dead on their backs in a Bradford flat both probably suffered drug overdoses, detectives revealed today.

And they are investigating whether the substances were bought from the same Bradford nightclub outside which two people were shot last year.

Officers found the two Italian nationals in front of a blaring television after being called to the block in Flockton Avenue, Bowling.

Neighbouring friends raised the alarm after spotting the door to the top floor apartment open and making the grim discovery at about 12.30am yesterday.

The men - aged 26 and 41 - worked at the La Dolce Vita Restaurant and Pizzeria in Middlegate, Birstall, but have not yet been formerly identified. The younger man is thought to have owned the business.

Two notices attached to the windows of the restaurant yesterday informed customers that due to bereavement it would be closed until further notice, and apologised for the inconvenience.

One memorial card stuck to the door had a brief message in Italian. Another said: "You lived life to the full and you will be missed more than you could ever imagine.''

Detective Chief Superintendent Max McLean, who is heading the investigation, said: "We believe this was a drugs-related incident."

Officers are awaiting the results of toxicology tests and cannot yet say what kind of substances were involved or whether "rogue" or contaminated drugs were taken.

No drug-taking equipment was recovered but detectives are not ruling out the possibility the pair had injected substances.

Det Chief Supt McClean revealed their movements over the last hours of their lives.

"Having returned home from the restaurant on Sunday night they decided to go into Bradford for a drink and a dance," he said.

He said the pair had gone to the Planet Venus nightclub in City Road - outside which two people were injured in a shooting last November.

"It is therefore a possibility that they had bought drugs in the nightclub and that is certainly a line of inquiry we are following," said Det Chief Supt McClean.

At about 3.30am, they returned home with the 26-year-old's girlfriend. She is believed to have left the flat before the tragedy occurred and was yesterday helping police with their investigation.

"We are not seeking anybody else in line with their deaths and we believe the drugs were taken voluntarily."

But he said they would be seeking, as ever, to convict those who sold the drugs and appealed for anyone with information to contact police on (01274) 376485.

"We will be looking very carefully at where they had bought from," said Det Chief Supt McLean. "This appears to be the tragic loss of life of two men who had everything going for them."

e-mail: drew.kendell

@bradford.newsquest.co.uk