Noel and Marie Brown. Pic: Met Police

A father and daughter were found dead in a flat on New Butt Lane in the early hours of this morning, sparking a double murder investigation by the Metropolitan Police.

Scotland Yard identified the deceased as 69-year-old Noel Brown, from Deptford, and his 41-year-old daughter, Marie Brown, from Southwark.

Marie Brown is reportedly a primary school crèche leader at a Nunhead primary school with an 18-year-old daughter and a nine-year-old daughter with autism.

Both victims were pronounced dead on the scene after police forced entry to Noel Brown’s flat at 2:45am on December 4 following reports of concern for the occupants of the flat.

A police statement reported that Noel Brown had “a significant routine” but was not seen after Thursday November 30.

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Homicide and Major Crime Command are investigating, reportedly probing into the possibility that Noel Brown was targeted following a big gambling win.

Detective Chief Inspector Simon Harding, the officer leading the investigation, said: “Noel, in particular, was well known in the area, and he frequently used local betting shops. I want to hear from anyone who spent time with him or saw him at any point in the past week, especially if he was in the company of people with whom he didn’t normally associate.

“I urgently need the public’s help to establish the last movements of both Noel Brown and Marie Brown in the week before their deaths.”

A crime scene remains in place at the Deptford flat and there are increased police patrols in the area.

If you have any information to assist the investigation, you can contact the incident room on 0208 721 4205 or the police on 101. You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.