STUNNED friends and work colleagues have joined to pay emotional tributes to a much-loved couple whose bodies were found in their Fordingbridge home on Monday morning, along with their two young daughters.

Staff at Doccombe European Limited in Downton, Wilts, where Andy Case, 31, had worked as a delivery driver for three years, are still struggling to come to terms with the tragedy.

Managing director John Underhill said: "What has happened is incomprehensible. Andy and Vicki were a beautiful couple.

"They fought against the pressures of modern society to maintain a happy, respectable and responsible life. Phoebe and Nereya were cherished by both, above all others."

Mr Underhill described Mr Case as "a model employee; hard-working, personable and well liked", adding: "He was a loyal, honourable and charitable gentleman."

Mr Case was due to return to work on the day of the tragedy following a family holiday in Weymouth.

Mr Underhill said: "The directors and staff offer their heartfelt sympathy to Andy and Vicki's families. "We hope their God will give them strength and understanding to overcome the tragedy tat has befallen all of us."

Tony Oliver, an employee at Schiedel Chimney Systems on Ferndown Industrial Estate, also paid tribute to Mr Case.

He said: "Andy was well liked by all of us who knew him for a number of years. He was such a nice guy, always joking and telling stories.

"Andy would often take his break at our offices and have a coffee and a chat. He always spoke very highly of his family. We are all in shock and disbelief that this has happened. My heart goes out to the family left behind." Post mortem results have shown that Andy died from hanging and his 31-year-old wife Vicki suffered fatal knife wounds.

Post mortems on 18-month-old Nereya and two-and-a-half-year-old Phoebe are due to take place this afternoon.

Acting Supt Gary Cooper said: "Detectives are continuing to investigate the background of the circumstances that led to this tragic incident.

"The families of everyone involved are understandably extremely shocked and distressed by what has happened and ask that they are left alone to try and come to terms with their loss."

For more tributes to the family see tomorrow's Daily Echo. If you would like to add your own email us.