Retired lorry driver Stanley Grout, 79, and his wife June, 80, were found dead on at their home in Old Becclesgate, Dereham, Norfolk, on Thursday

An elderly couple who were battling ill health and heartbroken when their dog died were found dead in their gas-filled home on the first day of the new national lockdown.

The couple who were named locally as retired lorry driver Stanley Grout, 79, and his wife June, 80, were found on Thursday alongside chemicals in their semi-detached house.

Police are treating their deaths as “unexplained”, but it is believed that there is no indication that anyone was involved.

The couple who had a daughter and granddaughter were “found unresponsive” by neighbours who checked on them at their home in Old Becclesgate, Dereham, Norfolk.

Police, firefighters and ambulance crews including paramedics in a Hazardous Area Response Team attended and the couple were pronounced dead at the scene.