INQUESTS were due to open today into the deaths of a Bradford family-of-four.

The hearing, which is expected to be adjourned pending further inquiries, was set to start at Bradford Coroners' Court at 9.15am this morning.

The community of Clayton is still in mourning and shock after the revelation that a dad murdered his wife and two daughters before killing himself.

Councillor Carol Thirkill (Clayton and Fairweather Green, Lab), who has visited the scene to lay flowers, said people in the village were "in shock" at the latest news on the deaths of Jitendra Lad, his wife Duksha, and their two daughters Trisha, 19, and Nisha, 16.

Police revealed on Wednesday evening that Mr Lad was found hanged at the family's house on Blackberry Way, and that his wife and daughters had been stabbed to death in their beds. Detectives reiterated they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths.

Cllr Thirkill said: "It is shocking, but no-one really knows what went on and I don't suppose we ever will. It may all come out in the future, but to all intents and purposes, they seemed a normal, happy family. But we do not know what goes on behind closed doors.

"It is a very, very sad situation."

On villagers' feelings, Cllr Thirkill said: "It is just shock more than anything. That it happened, and the way it has happened."

Cllr Thirkill also praised the police for suppressing residents' fears after news of the deaths broke.

She said: "I think the police reassuring everyone it was an incident that occurred within the home meant people quickly realised there was nothing to fear."

Kamal Sharma, a vice-chairman on the management committee of the Shree Lakshmi Narayan Hindu Temple, in Leeds Road, Bradford, said the family would probably be mentioned at a service this Sunday.

Mr Sharma told the Telegraph & Argus that the family were "devoted" visitors to the temple and the Shree Prajapati Association, in Thornton Lane.

He said he believed the family were among between 700 and 800 who attended a Diwali celebration at the Leeds Road temple last Sunday.

When asked about the possibility of a special service for the Lad family, Mr Sharma added: "We might do it on Sunday. At the moment there is not anything planned because the community is still grieving and is still in deep shock.

"There might be something at the end of the service to pay respect to the departed souls."