Tributes to 'lovely' teenage mother and toddler son after deaths at Ipswich house

Neighbours have paid tribute to a "lovely" teenage mother and her toddler son after their sudden deaths at a house in Ipswich.

Kia Russell, 19, and her two-year-old Kamari were discovered at the semi-detached property on Wednesday afternoon.

A 17-year-old boy has been arrested "as a result of subsequent enquires connected to the investigation", Suffolk Police said.

It is understood he has not been detained on suspicion of murder or manslaughter.

Former neighbour Lisa Horne, 39, placed flowers outside the house and described Ms Russell as "lovely".

Ms Horne said: "Every time we were out here she was polite.

"She was lovely. She never had any issues and was quiet.

"I just feel at a loss, at such a young age for both of them, no life at all really."

Another woman, who left a bouquet for Ms Russell, said: "She was just a lovely girl. Just a lovely, bubbly girl, always giggling."

A woman, whose sister was friends with Ms Russell at school, said she was "always happy", adding: "She was a good mum, a very good mum."

Reverend Mary Sokanovic said: "It's absolutely distressing. There aren't words for it."

Describing the area, she said: "It's a very mixed and varied parish with all sorts of people living here, all sorts of people striving to make a good life and doing the best they can.

"The same as many communities, there's people that do very well, there's people that struggle, it's a very mixed community."

A police officer stood outside the property in Swinburne Road on Thursday, as flowers were laid beside the garden gate.

Suffolk Police were called by the ambulance service to reports that a woman's body had been discovered in a property at 5pm on Wednesday.

The force said a young child was also found at the address and was treated by paramedics but died at the scene.

Their next of kin have been informed.

Police have appealed for anyone with information to come forward.