Dutch police are trying to trace the father of a family found dead in their home in Etten-Leur in Noord-Brabant province on Saturday evening after a tip-off.

A woman, grandmother and two small children, thought to be girls aged two and six, were found dead in the terraced house in the village near Breda.

The family, described by the Telegraaf as ‘of Turkish origin’, moved back into the grandmother’s home some time ago, the paper said. A neighbour told the paper: ‘The grandmother used to pass us twice a day while out walking her little dog.’

As yet police have said nothing about the cause of death, but denied reports that the next door neighbour had alerted the emergency services because of a ‘terrible smell’.

‘We are looking for the father of the family who is suspected of involvement in this incident,’ a police spokesman said. ‘We are concerned about his welfare and this is why we have published his photograph, so he can be found as quickly as possible.’