Police have cordoned off the village of Llangadog

People in Llangadog said they were finding it difficult to come to terms with the deaths of popular farmer William Davies, 59, and the 27-year-old landlady of the Red Lion pub Caroline Evans.

Police have sealed off 100 yards of road either side of the pub where Mr Davies and Ms Evans were found dead on Thursday night .

While police were carrying out forensic investigations at the scene on Friday, the streets remained strangely deserted - the repeated crowing of a cockerel and the pouring rain providing the backdrop to the shocked community.

Not even buses ferrying people to nearby Llandovery and Carmarthen were able to penetrate the police cordon.

A number of villagers had gathered in nearby pubs to discuss the tragedy. But apart from that the village general store was quiet.

The sense of shock within the entire community of around 500 villagers was almost palpable.

Shoemaker Dennis Edwards did not hear anything

As a sign of respect a number of local events have been cancelled - including a St David's Day celebration for the local school.

"We have all been very shocked - the children of the family went to Llangadog school and there are close connections with Llangadog school," said Sian Hamer.

"We have done a straw poll of parents and the feeling is that nobody is in the mood to celebrate."

"Both people are known in the village - one of the families have lived here all their lives and the other family has been here a number of years," said Councillor Meirion Thomas.

"It is a terrible shock," he said.

Community councillor Idwal Bowen was a friend of Mr Davies, who lived at Dolau Farm on the outskirts of the village.

Sian Hamer:'No mood for celebration'

"Will Dolau was a real character - he was so sharp and charismatic," he said.

"This is a great shock to me," he added.

Mr Davies was well-known for breeding prize-winning Friesian cows but had sold his 50 to 60 strong herd during the last two years to people restocking after foot-and-mouth.

"At the time, he was happy with the sale, but in the long run, I think it affected him," said Mr Bowen

"I am a retired farmer myself and it is a great shock when you don't see the animals on the farmyard anymore," he added.

Mr Davies had also suffered from diabetes for the last two years which made him more introverted, according to shoemaker 82-year-old Dennis Edwards, who works 100 yards away from the centuries old Red Lion pub, the scene of the shootings.

"I was working here at the time of the shooting, but I didn't hear anything," he said.

"I saw him about two weeks ago, and I must admit he was much quieter than he used to be," he added.

As part of his rehabilitation order, Mr Davies had been recently clearing the local cemetery and chopping wood, Mr Edwards said.