A RETIRED miner whose body was found alongside that of his wife's had recently been diagnosed with cancer, a neighbour said.

The couple - named locally as Jim and May Stokoe - were found in a bedroom of their sem-detached home in Sunderland yesterday (Wednesday, May 1) afternoon.

Their deaths are being treated as suspicious by police.

Officers were called to Hylton Castle Road at 4.20pm after a relative became concerned for their welfare.

Police and paramedics found the couple - believed to be in their 60's or 70's - dead in a bedroom.

Neighbour Sharon Robson, 42, said Mrs Stokoe had said her husband had recently been diagnosed with cancer and that he had been in hospital.

"They were a nice couple," she added. "She used to walk past my house to do her shopping and she would always greet me.

"My daughter came and told me there were police and an ambulance outside the house. I rushed over and found out they had died.

"It's absolutely shocking, no-one can believe this could have happened."

Friend John Gardner, 67, of The Briars, Sunderland, who used to work down the pit with Mr Stokoe, said last night: "I am absolutely devastated.

"He loved driving his car and was always in the betting office. I only saw him there this morning.

"I have known them 40 odd years. They were a happy couple."

A police investigation is underway to discover the exact causes of death.

Sunderland Area Commander Chief Superintendent Kay Blyth  said: "We are in the early stages of our investigation into these deaths.

"The deaths are being treated as suspicious and we have additional officers in the area both to reassure the local community and help with the investigation."

"This investigation is at an early stage, however we have nothing to suggest that there is any threat to the wider community." 

Anyone with information about the deaths is urged to contact police on the 101 non-emergency number, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.