Police were today baffled by the deaths of two men found lying on their backs in a Bradford flat.

Officers were called to a top floor apartment in a block of flats in Flockton Avenue, Bowling, by neighbours just after midnight today.

There they found the bodies of two Italian nationals - a 26-year-old man and a 41-year-old man - lying on their backs in front of a blaring television set in the lounge.

Detective Chief Superintendent Max McLean, of Bradford South CID, said he wanted to trace anyone who had spoken to the two men around midnight on Sunday (April 22) when the pair were last seen alive.

The officer said both men, who are believed to work in an Italian restaurant in the area, were last seen late Sunday evening or early on Monday after they had returned from work.

He said there are a number of friends of the men who live in the same block of apartments and they raised the alarm when they noticed the front door of the flat open at 12.30am today (Tuesday) April 24.

He said there was no sign of forced entry and no obvious cause of death.

Det Chief Supt McLean said: "It is a mystery at the moment as to the cause of death.

"We are investigating the possibility of drug use but at this point we are keeping an open mind.

"We are very keen to know the men's movements over the last 48 hours. We would especially like to hear from anyone who saw the men after they finished work around midnight on Sunday.

"After an initial examination by myself the bodies have been removed to the mortuary and a post-mortem examination will take place later today.

"We believe that the younger man's family are travelling from Italy immediately having heard about their son's death.

"We are still trying to contact the family of the 41-year-old man."

The detective said he believed both men were Italian nationals and had only moved to the flats in the last couple of months.

Anyone with information should call Bradford South CID on 01274 376485.