Speculation was mounting today about the financial circumstances of tragic Oswestry father Hugh McFall.

Mr McFall, 48, is believed to have lost a major contract in the days before he killed his wife Sue and daughter Frankie and hanged himself.

The police today refused to comment on rumours that Mr McFall had been in financial trouble, and reports that he had smothered his wife and daughter as they lay sleeping in their beds.

The florist is then believed to have driven to his lock-up unit in St Martins before calling police to tell them what he had done and that he intended to kill himself.

West Mercia Police spokesman Richard Ewels said he could not comment on any of the speculation.

But today sources at the business park in Ellesmere Road said they had heard his business had lost a deal to supply a major customer in the days before the tragedy.

The bodies of Mrs McFall, 56, and 18-year-old Frankie were found at the family home in Hampton Road in Oswestry just after 5am on Friday. Mr McFall’s body was found four hours later.

Reports over the weekend suggested Mr McFall smothered his wife and daughter before driving to St Martins where he killed himself.

Mr Ewels said today he was unable to comment on the reports and also suggestions the Mr McFall’s business had hit financial troubles.

He also refused to be drawn on whether Mr McFall was at the centre of any police investigation prior to the tragedy.

Mr Ewels said: “Investigations are continuing into all the circumstances surrounding this tragedy.

“Post mortem examinations were conducted by a Home Office pathologist over the weekend on all three family members and the police are in a process of compiling a report for the coroner for Mid and North Shropshire, John Ellery.”

More than 40 police officers have been working on the case.

Officers have carried out door-to-door inquiries and are continuing to speak to witnesses as they piece together events leading to the deaths.

A police cordon which closed off part of Hampton Road on Friday has been removed and floral tributes outside the family home continued to mount today.