A family photograph of Robert and Mary Powell with their son, Neil

Robert and Mary Powell, 56, who lived in a remote cottage in Carmarthenshire, were found more than 10 miles apart.

They were told on Thursday that their son, Neil Robert Powell, 27, who lived in Bridgend, had been found dead.

On Friday Mr Powell senior's body was found in an outhouse at their home near Llandeilo, while his wife's body was recovered from a nearby reservoir.

Neil Powell was discovered hanging from a tree near a paper mill in the Maesteg area of south Wales where he worked around 1355 BST on Thursday, say police.

South Wales Police asked their colleagues in Dyfed-Powys to inform his parents and officers from Llandeilo visited their home in Taliaris, that afternoon.

Detective Chief Inspector Martin Davies of Dyfed-Powys Police said Mr and Mrs Powell were offered support and counselling but when officers returned to their home the following day they found Mr Powell's body.

This is a tragic incident involving two generations of the same family DCI Martin Davies

The police helicopter was dispatched to search the reservoir where Mrs Powell's body was spotted floating in the water shortly after 1600 BST on Friday.

Emergency services used an inflatable craft to reach her but she was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital in Carmarthen.

DCI Davies said there were no suspicious circumstances and police were not looking for anyone else over the deaths.

"He was their only son and it is evident that they were a very close family," he said.

"This is a tragic incident involving two generations of the same family."

He said the last sighting of Mr and Mrs Powell was on Thursday evening as they drove away from their home in Taliaris.

Mr Powell's body was found at the family home in Carmarthenshire

Apparently they drove to the Llyn Brianne reservoir near Llandovery where Mrs Powell's body was found.

It is understood that Mr Powell returned home to tidy up his affairs before killing himself.

"We are still trying to trace the final movements of Mr and Mrs Powell," said DCI Davies.

"We are aware that they left their home in their Blue Mercedes at about 2130 BST but have no positive sighting of them after that."

Post mortem examinations have been carried out on all three bodies and inquests into the deaths have been opened and adjourned.

The couple had only lived in Carmarthenshire for around two-and-a-half-years where they were restoring the cottage.

Tremendous shock

Prayers were said at several churches in the Llandeilo area on Sunday.

Local vicar Peter Bement said: "This is a close and friendly and warm community. A tragedy of this magnitude creates a tremendous sense of shock among friends and neighbours."

Jane Davies, who farms with her husband on land adjoining the cottage said the Powells' lives had revolved around their love for their son and the refurbishment of the cottage.

"They were very quiet, very nice people. (They) kept themselves to themselves but they seemed a devoted couple and they loved their son.

"Whenever you talked, especially to her, the son's name would come into the conversation," she said.

Anyone who saw Mr or Mrs Powell or their car after 21.30BSt on Thursday either on the road or at Llyn Brianne reservoir are asked to contact Ammanford Police Station on 08453302000.