Did pressure cause millionaire to 'flip'?

Missing Shropshire millionaire Chris Foster could have "just flipped" before the blaze that ripped through his country home, one of his closest former business associates claimed today.

Terence Baines, a former director of Mr Foster's Telford-based company Ulva Ltd, said the pressure could have got too much for the 50-year-old businessman. The claims come after two bodies were recovered from Mr Foster's home, Osbaston House in Maesbrook, during the night.

Detectives have not revealed the identity of the bodies.

Search teams and forensics arrived at the scene of the fire-ravaged home shortly after 7.30am today to continue the search for the Foster family.

Mr Foster, 50, his wife Jill, 49, and their 15-year-old daughter Kirstie have been missing since the fire ravaged their £1.15 million home in the early hours of Tuesday.

Mr Baines said: "It's anyone's guess, but it seems the people he owed money to are big companies and I can't see them behind something like this."

Mr Baines, an accountant from Tamworth, speculated Mr Foster could have "just flipped - the pressure of it was too much for him".

He said: "He was an ordinary business salesman, running a company, and a family man.

"He was just an ordinary everyday chap, well-dressed, a good businessman."

Mr Baines, who used to own the company, said he was last in contact with Mr Foster in 2001 and sold his shares in Ulva to Mr Foster "way back".

Forensic experts today said the search through the charred remains of Osbaston House would be "extremely difficult".

Forensic scientist Alan Baker, who runs Bericon - a firm of independent forensic scientists - said: "It is a well-known fact fire destroys evidence.

"That is why people burn out stolen cars and why people set fire to crime scenes.

"It is not the case the scene is completely helpless, but the police have an extremely difficult case on their hands."

The search, which detectives originally said could take several weeks, continued for a second day after the start of the search was hampered by falling debris yesterday.

Structural engineers had to shore-up the remains of the house before officers could go back in yesterday afternoon.

The discovery of two bodies comes after huge speculation has surrounded the blaze and the missing Foster family.

Kirstie is believed to have been talking on-line to friends through a social networking site shortly before the fire was deliberately started.

Police have confirmed Kirstie did have a computer and her activity on that computer forms part of their huge probe.

Horses and dogs were also found dead at the property.

By Crime Correspondent Kirsty Smallman

See also:

Two bodies found in blaze house

Kirstie 'on net' before blaze

Businessman 'risked losing £1m home'

Forensics team's grim search

Latest search pictures

Inside Osbaston Hall before the blaze

Scene of the mansion blaze