Murder squad detectives are probing a double death in a rented Bradford flat.

Mystery surrounds the circumstances of the deaths of the couple, believed to be an Eastern European man and young woman described by neighbours as a “standard couple”.

Police were called to the flat in a multi-occupancy house in Hallfield Road, Manningham, by a rent collector, who made the gruesome discovery.

The man, who used his own keys to get into the flat after rent was overdue, is understood to have discovered the male victim in the entrance. He is understood to have been found hanged.

Police and paramedics were called shortly before 9pm on Monday by the collector’s uncle, who is the landlord and lives in the next street, off Lumb Lane.

A police spokesman said last night: “We can confirm that the body of a man found inside a property at Hallfield Road, Bradford, was found hanging. As a result of a search of the premises a second body was found, we are not able to confirm any further details at this stage, but a post-mortem examination will be conducted.”

He said the incident was being investigated by the Force’s Homicide and Major Enquiry Team led by Detective Superintendent Sukhbir Singh.

Forensic teams have been in the flat in the three-storey sandstone terraced house.

Neighbours and people who work in the street, a mix of homes and businesses including accountants, solicitors and a language school, were shocked at the news.

Ibrah Ali, who works at a charity a few doors down from the property, said: “I saw a lad go to collect the rent, apparently it had been due about three days before but he hadn’t seen them. He was at the door for a while and then because he couldn’t get an answer he used his own keys to get in.

“He came running out and was saying he’d seen something but he didn’t know if it was a dummy or a body.

“It was really strange, the paramedics had gone but they came back again. It was about two hours later when the woman was found.”

Mr Ali said he knew of the couple who lived in the flat but had never spoken to them.

“They were just a standard couple. She was blonde, probably in her late 20s. The man was a bit older and bald. I used to see them leave together in the mornings to walk into town.”

A woman who works in the street said: “I didn’t know the couple but I’d probably have seen them about. There’s a lot of Eastern Europeans living in flats here. It’s tragic, such a horrid thing that’s happened.”

Solicitor John Cordingley, whose office is on the street, said the first he knew of the deaths was when he saw police outside.

“It’s usually quiet along here. I can’t say they were a couple known for trouble and having the police round. If it’s the woman I think it was who lived there, she was attractive, the kind of person you would notice.”

Landlord Jamil Hussain, whose family are said to own many of the properties in Hallfield Road, was not available for comment.

The dead couple were understood to live on the top floor and had been tenants there for more than one year, said another neighbour.

Outside police tape sealed off both the front and back to the house with officers standing guard.