Police sealed off several roads in the village

Armed police were called to the �1m mansion in Hermitage, near Newbury, on Tuesday evening after a woman inside made a 999 call saying there was a man armed with a gun.

When they entered the house early on Wednesday morning, they found the bodies of a middle-aged couple and a teenage boy.

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

The three have not yet been officially named by police.

We don't really know what's happened - a For Sale sign was put up a while ago at the house and we thought something might be wrong but we don't know Mrs Calvertz-Jons

Detectives investigating the incident now believe as many as 14 shots were fired.

They have recovered a 12-gauge shotgun from the scene.

The couple, who were said to be going through an acrimonious divorce, are believed to have had a teenage daughter, who was not at home when the shootings happened.

Neighbour Anthony Calvertz-Jons said: "It's absolutely terrible, it's a real tragedy. They were a lovely, lovely family and it's very sad."

His wife, who did not wish to give her first name said: "They were very nice people, all very nice looking, and good neighbours. It's just very, very sad."

Delay defended

Police defended their handling of the incident

Two church services were held for the family on Thursday at St Frances de Sales Catholic Church, in Newbury.

On Wednesday, Thames Valley Police defended their six-hour delay in entering 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.

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."

Postmortem examinations were carried out on Thursday and formal identification was not expected until Friday.