Police sealed off several roads in the village

Armed police officers were called to the �1m mansion in Hermitage, near Newbury, at 1910 GMT on Tuesday after a woman reported a man armed with a gun.

A siege continued until 0145 GMT on Wednesday when officers entered the house in Slanting Lane to find the bodies of a man and a woman.

Another body, that of a teenager, was found on the house driveway.

Neighbours say the family moved to Hermitage three years ago

Police say they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

Thames Valley Police said the call was believed to have been made by the woman whose body was later found in the house.

They said firearms officers had not entered the building immediately because of the dangerous nature of the incident, and because they did not know the exact circumstances of what they were dealing with.

After the discovery of the bodies, a shotgun was recovered from the scene.

Detective Inspector Steve Reschwamm said: "We did not know exactly what was happening.

"We did not know if there was still a gunman in the property, waiting to pick off anyone else who entered."

Part of the village remained cordoned off on Wednesday while scenes of crime officers gathered evidence and other inquiries were carried out.

Post-mortem examinations are due to be carried out and formal identification is not expected until Thursday.