The bodies of a woman and her seven-year-old son have been discovered after police forced their way into a house in London.

Officers were called to a house in The Fairway, Ruislip, west London, at around 10.50am on Wednesday over welfare concerns.

The bodies of the woman, aged 37, and her seven-year-old son were discovered inside, the Metropolitan Police said.

Formal identification is yet to take place but police believe the deceased are Sinead Higgins (pictured) and Oisin O’Driscoll and that their deaths did not involve a third party. Both are Irish, and Ms Higgins is understood to have been originally from Westport, Co Mayo.

Next of kin have been informed.

Detective inspector Dave Bolton, from the Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: “The investigation is at a very early stage but inquiries so far lead us to believe there is a likelihood that the tragic events that led to the deaths do not involve a third party.

“We are appealing to anyone who has any information to come and speak with us.”

A post-mortem examination is scheduled to take place at Fulham mortuary on Friday.

– PA