A DAD and his young daughter who died in a double tragedy have been named.
Mark Gordon (36) and Hope (6) were found at the family home in West Calder yesterday.
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Mark Gordon and daughter Hope tragically died in West Calder
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Officers raided a house in Harburn Drive, West Lothian on MondayCredit: Michael Schofield, News Group Newspapers Ltd
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A man and his six-year-old daughter were found dead in the family homeCredit: Les Gallagher
The horrific discovery was made after fire crews forced open the door.
One stunned local said: “It’s so sad to think something horrible happened here.”
Officers raided a house in a former mining community in West Lothian at 4pm on Monday after “reports of concern about a person inside”.
Firefighters broke down the door before the boy and man were found.
The young girl’s family raised the alarm after she failed to turn up at school prompting police officers to investigate.
Chief Superintendent Gregg Banks said: “Police Scotland responded to a ‘concern’ call on Monday 20 January.
“That call referred to the family’s concerns about a child who does not go to school.
“This prompted our officers to carry out inquiries to establish the whereabouts of the child and ultimately resulted in them attending the property in West Calder.
“We were unable to gain entry to the property and were assisted by colleagues from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to force entry and tragically the bodies of an adult male aged 36 and a young female aged 6 were discovered on the property. .”
Chief Inspector Bob Williamson, from the Major Investigation Team, added: “Our thoughts remain with the relatives of the man and girl at this extremely difficult time and they continue to be supported by specialist officers.
Horror as a man and a girl, aged six, were found dead in a Scots home as police launch a major investigation
“They are understandably devastated and it is critical that we get answers for them.
“At this time we have no information to suggest that anyone else is involved and our inquiries are continuing.
“I would ask that anyone who has any information, no matter how small or insignificant they think it is, please contact the officers.”
As police inquiries continued into the “unexplained” deaths, teams of forensics in white suits were seen entering the blue incident tent in the estate’s garden last night.
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Detectives continue to investigate the double death tragedy
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A blue police tent was thrown up as officers searched the sceneCredit: Michael Schofield, News Group Newspapers Ltd
Uniformed officers stood guard along the cordon while detectives went door to door talking to residents.
One neighbor told The Scottish Sun: “It’s unspeakable. Sometimes I would see a little girl out in the garden.
“She was such a lovely little thing. We’re close-knit here, but nobody really knew them.”
Some locals claim that the couple lived in the apartment for about a year.
And retired lollipop seller Isabel Girdwood, 91, said she spotted the two women at the door just hours before the bodies were found.
Describing both as in their twenties, she added: “They knocked on the door and got no answer.
“Then they pulled into the parking lot and there was a woman sitting in the car. The man who lived there was very quiet.
“I heard that he was separated from his wife, but he had a little girl.
“He never got along with anyone. It’s tragic.”
Shocked parents walked past a police cordon yesterday as they collected pupils from nearby Parkhead Primary School.
An autopsy is underway.
Labor councilor Colin Meek revealed the girl was not a pupil at Parkhead Primary School. He said, “There is no connection with the school.”
Justice Minister Angela Constance, the area’s MSP, said: “This is devastating news.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the deceased.”
Gregor Poynton, Labor MP for Livingston constituency, said yesterday: “I am sorry to learn of the tragic deaths in West Calder. My thoughts are with all those affected.”
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