A man and a woman were found stabbed to death in a flat last night.

Police said they were keeping an open mind about how the pair died but confirmed they were not looking for any suspects.

It is believed the bodies were discovered by family members shortly after 5pm at the flat in Somerhill Avenue, Hove.

Paramedics then alerted police.

The pair, said to be in their 50s, each had “multiple injuries”.

Officers could not confirm if they were a couple.

A section of Somerhill Road, between the junctions with Nizells Avenue and Somerhill Avenue, was sealed off as scenes of crime officers and detectives started their investigation.

The dead man and woman are understood to be Sudanese Christians who were members of St Mary and St Abraam Coptic Orthodox Church in Davigdor Road, Hove.

Relatives and members of the church community gathered at the scene yesterday evening.

Some were taken by officers to Hove police station.

A neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: “I have lived here for ten years and I’ve never seen anything like this before.

“I’m obviously shocked being in a place where two people are dead.

This is one of the quietest places in Hove.”

Detective Chief Inspector Trevor Bowles, of Sussex Police’s major crime branch, said: “We are in the early stages of establishing the events that led to these tragic deaths.

We are not looking for anyone else but I will keep an open mind as to how this has happened.”

Police are appealing for anyone who saw or heard anything unusual in the area yesterday afternoon to call them.

Anyone who saw anything suspicious or has any information is asked to call Sussex Police on 0845 6070999 quoting Operation Helik or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 55111.