Essex family deaths
Shigi Rethishkumar (left) and her 13-year-old twins Niya and Neha (second left and far right) were found dead at their home in Chadwell Heath, while father (centre) Pullarkattil Rethishkumar was found hanged in Walthamstow

The mother found dead in Chadwell Heath alongside her twin daughters had told her husband she wanted a divorce, the Evening Standard revealed.

Bodies of 37-year-old Shighi Rethishkumar and 13-year-olds Niya and Neha were found in their beds by police on Grove Road in Chadwell Heath, east London. The father and husband, Rethishkumar Pullarkattil, 44, was found hanging from a tree at a nearby reservoir yesterday.

Sources close to the family revealed that the couple had a "huge row" on Sunday when Mrs Rethishkumar told him she wanted to separate. Shortly after, she sent a text message to a friend saying: "I am fed up of this life."

Her husband had feared that his family were becoming corrupted by the western lifestyle and had become "greedy". He planned to move back to India where they were planning to build a house. Sources revealed that Pullarkattil had become overly worried about the morals of his wife and children, one to whom had become reportedly been playing truant from school.

However, his wife refused to leave the UK and she said she and the girls would stay without him.

A source revealed: "She called her parents on Sunday evening saying that she had wanted a divorce. She then sent a message to a friend saying she was fed up of this life. They were having a lot of problems, between them and the children. He was very stressed about his family and the house, and she was unhappy. He was unable to understand things over here and for a number of years they had issues."

It is understood police were called to the house on Monday after the children's school became concerned as neither of them were in class. But there was no answer. It was only when the police had broken down the door the following day that they found the bodies.

A post mortem examination showed that there were no visible signs of injuries, police said. A manhunt was launched to find the girls' father and his body was discovered at the covered reservoir in Forest Road, Walthamstow, by a member of the public.

The family originated from the Kerala region of southern India and moved to east London around eight years ago. Mrs Rethiskumar was a social worker caring for elderly people for Havering council and her husband was employed by Vision Redbridge Leisure and Culture. The girls were described as "shy" and were currently studying in year eight at Chadwell Heath Academy.

Chadwell Heath Academy, in Christie Gardens, Romford, today released a statement on hearing the news.

It read: We are deeply saddened by this tragic event. Our thoughts and sympathies are with all who knew the family.

"We are doing all that is necessary to support the staff and the pupils through this sad time."

India