Man found dead with son was going through bitter seperation

Chris Hall, thought to have been in his late 30s, was found with his son, also called Chris, aged about five, at their home in the town's Queen's Road yesterday.

Police said no one else is being sought in connection with the incident and the cause of the deaths is not yet known.

Neighbours have spoken of their shock and distress at the deaths of the father and son, who were known as Big Chris and Little Chris.

The house remained cordoned off by police today as forensic officers carried out examinations of the scene.

Neighbour Phil Haley, 38, said Mr Hall had been incredibly upset by the split with partner Rachel Edwards.

He added that Mr Hall had also been experiencing "legal problems" with the cafe he ran with Ms Edwards at Nuffield Industrial Estate in Poole.

Mr Haley, a sales representative for a drinks company, said he had become good friends with Mr Hall through walking his dogs with him.

He said Mr Hall had two Alsatians and an Alaskan malamute which he would walk every day in the park with his son, who went to Courthill First School.

He added: "He doted on his little boy, he meant everything to him. He was a lovely little boy, it's absolutely tragic, I don't know how they are going to explain it to the other kids at the school."

Mr Haley said that Ms Edwards left Mr Hall in March or April this year, and that Mr Hall was distraught at the prospect of losing his son.

He said: "It was a very difficult split-up, a lot of issues surrounding it that made it very difficult for Big and Little Chris at home.

"She did end up with someone else, that was the trigger that upset Big Chris. He wasn't selfish enough to know that that was the only reason for the split-up."

He added: "He was a very good man. Before people think he was evil, that was the last thing he was. He had a lot of morals, a lot of people liked him."