THE family of a mother and daughter found murdered in a Merseyside house have pleaded with a missing lodger to contact police.

Distraught relatives of Angela Holgate, 54, and Alice Huyton, 75, described their deaths in Churchtown, near Southport, as “senseless”.

Yesterday, the family urged Angela’s lodger, Barry Morrow, who hasn’t been seen since the discovery of the women’s bodies on Saturday, to come forward.

Police believe Morrow is abroad, possibly in France or Spain.

The family gave an emotional tribute to both women.

Mrs Huyton’s husband Jim, who in his 80’s, described his wife as “the love of my life” and “the rock”.

John Huyton, Alice’s son and Angela’s brother, said: “Alice and Angela were integral cogs in our close-knit family.

“Both were very popular and led active lives and had many friends.

“They meant so much in the eyes of different family members and held the roles of great-grandmother, grandmother, mother, wife, auntie, sister and sister-in-law.

“The sad loss has had a severe impact on the whole family.

“Jim is distraught at the loss of the love of his life, Alice, who was his rock.

“They had been married for 55 years, having known each other since childhood.

“Angela was their only daughter.