Monika Wlodarczyk, 35, Michal Wlodarczyk, 39, Maja Wlodarczyk, 11, and three-year-old Dawid Wlodarczyk were discovered by police at a property in Bedfont, Hounslow, on Friday afternoon after concerns were raised for their welfare.

Mr and Mrs Wlodarczyk are believed to be the parents of the two children, police have said.

A post-mortem examination has revealed Ms Wlodarczyk died from sharp force injuries and her death is being treated as murder, the Metropolitan Police said.

Mr Wlodarczyk died from sharp force injuries to the neck, the force added.

Post-mortem examinations are yet to be held for the children.

Police forced entry into the flat in Staines Road after being contacted by Maja's school.

They had become concerned as she had not attended school since Monday 12 June, and family members had not replied to messages.

It is not known what date the family of four died.

A woman whose daughter was in the same class at Southville Primary school as Maja said they were a "wonderful family".

She said she thought the family may have gone to Mallorca because they said they were planning to go there for Mr Wlodarczyk's 40th birthday.

"The family is really nice, normal and very hardworking," she said before police named those who had died, adding that the father worked as a builder and the mother was a cleaner at a hotel in Heathrow.

"They're a really wonderful family," she said.

Detective Chief Inspector Linda Bradley said police are not currently seeking anybody else in connection with the incident but are keeping an "open mind".

"I would like to assure the community that specialist detectives continue to investigate the circumstances which led to this tragic incident and I will continue to provide further updates as soon as appropriate," she said.

"We are also continuing to support family members at this unimaginably difficult time."

She encouraged anyone with any information to contact police as soon as possible.