The deaths of a Billingshurst couple, Jan and Julia Tshabalala, on Christmas Day 2014 are now officially being treated as a murder-suicide enquiry by police.

Extensive forensic and toxicological tests have just been completed and show this to be the most likely outcome.

The exact circumstances still remain to be decided at an inquest into the Tshabalalas' deaths.

Their bodies were found at their home in Groomsland Drive, Billingshurst, on the morning of 25 December last year.

The couple's two children, aged six and four, were not thought to have been home at the time of their deaths.

Evidence will now be presented to the West Sussex coroner for an inquest to be held.

Senior investigating officer in the case is Detective Chief Inspector Paul Rymarz, of the Sussex and Surrey major crime team.

He said: "People may be wondering why it has taken so long to determine the causes of the couple's deaths.

"But this has not been a straightforward case and consideration has had to be given to a number of forensic factors. We have had to await the outcome of tests that have taken time to complete.

"Members of the Tshabalalas' family are fully aware of this and understand the reasons."

He added: "I have been grateful to them for their dignity and patience while this investigation has proceeded."

A Home Office pathologist has given the cause of death in 30-year-old Mrs Tshabalala's case as being consistent with pressure on the neck. Her husband Jan, 33, was found to have subsequently died from hanging.

The date of an inquest into the two deaths has yet to be fixed.