SHOCK AS TOP HEAD IS FOUND DEAD WITH HER FAMILY

EX-CHIEF OF LEADING LONDON SCHOOL DISCOVERED HER DAUGHTER, 7, AT EPSOM COLLEGE ALONGSIDE

- Martin Bentham, John Dunne and Anna Davis

STAFF and parents at Epsom College today spoke of their "deep shock" at the death of the headteacher, her daughter and husband at their home in the school grounds as police investigated the triple tragedy.

The bodies of Emma Pattison, her seven-year-old daughter Lettie and husband George were discovered by officers after being called by ambulance staff in the early hours yesterday. The circumstances of their deaths were still being investigated but police said they were confident there was no "third-party involvement" and that the tragedy was an "isolated incident".

Today, pupils brought flowers in memory of Ms Pattison, 45, left, who became the boarding and day school's first female headteacher five months ago after moving from her previous job as head at Croydon High School - as staff members hugged and consoled each other as they arrived for the start of the week. The college flag was flying at half mast. One staff member said: "We are in deep shock.

We just can't comprehend what happened." Another said: "We are beyond words, it's too upsetting. She was very popular and now we have to help the children come to terms with this."