Brothers found murdered in car are named

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails

Sign up to our free breaking news emails

Please enter a valid email address

Please enter a valid email address

SIGN UP

I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

A murder investigation was launched yesterday after two young brothers were found dead in a parked car at a popular beauty spot.

The children, six-year-old Paul Ross and two-year-old Jay, were discovered in a lay-by near the Campsie Fells, Lennoxtown, near Glasgow.

Strathclyde Police confirmed the deaths were being treated as murder following post-mortem examinations today.

A man - said to be the children's father - was taken from the scene to Glasgow Royal Infirmary where he is understood to be in a critical condition with severe burns.

He is said to be of Indian origin and under police guard at the hospital. Police have not confirmed his relationship to the boys.

It had been reported that the children, both from the Royston area of Glasgow, had suffered violent deaths.

It is believed the boy's father had separated from his wife, who lives in Glasgow.

The bodies were discovered in the car, off the B822 Crow Road, at around 5.30pm on Saturday.

Police blocked off the road north of Lennoxtown at the Campsie Golf Club overnight.

A police recovery lorry was sent shortly before midnight and returned half an hour later, followed by two police cars.

Locals at the small East Dunbartonshire town reacted with shock to the deaths.

Ronal Jannaway, 61, steward of the Campsie Golf Club, said: "Nobody can believe what's happened here. I think everyone's just shocked by it all."

Mr Jannaway said 20 members arrived at 7.30am today but were prevented from going on to the course by police, who had set up the road block by the clubhouse gates.

He said: "The course winds its way up to where the car was found, about a mile. I guess the police thought some of us might wander up there.

"The boys were just hanging around waiting to tee off. Nobody really knew much about what had happened."

Police lifted the restriction at 8.30am and unblocked the road at around 12.30pm.

The lay-by is around one mile from the golf course and is said to be popular with hill walkers.

The car park, which offers views over Glasgow, is often busy, particularly at weekends, locals said.

A spokeswoman for Strathclyde Police confirmed: "Following post-mortem examinations, the deaths are now being treated as murder.

"The boys can now be named as Paul Ross, aged six, and Jay Ross, aged two, of the Royston area of Glasgow.

"Police are continuing to follow a positive line of inquiry."