EYEWITNESSES have recalled hearing a 'loud commotion' before watching a man fall to his death from the top floor of a block of flats.

Thames Valley Police launched a murder investigation yesterday morning after the 37-year-old was pronounced dead at Foresters Tower on Tuesday night.

He had reportedly fallen from the 14th floor of the Wood Farm high-rise.

Ten floors down, a 42-year-old woman was also found by police on the same night.

She had 'severe' neck injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Foresters Tower is a 14-floor block of flats which sits on the corner of Pether Road and Wood Farm Road near Headington.

There are 85 flats, most of which are owned by Oxford City Council.

One resident, who lives on the 10th floor, said he had heard loud noises and assumed it was a group of children causing trouble.

He said: “It was about 9.15pm and we heard loud sounds, kind of like glass smashing.

“We get a lot of anti-social behaviour here so I started shouting up to the 14th floor, as I initially thought it was kids.

"Within a minute or so the smashing of the hallway window had stopped and there was loads of glass coming down.

"Then a body of a naked man had come somersaulting out of the communal window.

"I called 999 straight away, and CID said I was the first caller.

"I'm on the 10th floor. I don't know who it is but I've heard he might be from Poland."

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Tenants at Foresters Tower were able to get in and out of their flats yesterday, with police officers allowing resident-only access beyond the cordon.

This was not the case after the deaths on Tuesday night, with several people reporting that police had the building on lockdown in the immediate aftermath.

Another person who lives in the flats said he was one of three people who had rushed down to the aid of the man.

He said: "There was a loud roar and a lot of commotion.

"I thought somebody was throwing furniture or something.

"There was just a load of noise and I thought somebody was making noise.

“I saw something falling and then looked down and a man was on his back.

“I called the police straight away.The ambulance told me to go down there [to the scene] and I did, there were others doing CPR and I just waved the police into the area.”

He explained that the man had fallen into a bin storage area, which is a small section at the back of the grassy area, next to the flats.

Yesterday a blue forensic tent had been propped up against the brick wall and groups of police officers could be seen watching over the taped-up area.

According to a 2016 city council document about tower block security, Foresters Tower has electronically-controlled entry and CCTV.

A public space protection order was implemented a year later at the flats in response to antisocial behaviour.

It prevents young people under the age of 21, who are not legal residents, from entering the tower block unless visiting a resident.

Yesterday afternoon police appealed for any witnesses to come forward who hadn't already shared information with the force.

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Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Bosley from the Major Crime Unit stressed that there was no wider threat to the community but said there will be a continued police presence in the area.

He said: “We are in the very early stages of our investigation, but we believe that the two people who have died were known to each other.

“As such, we are not looking for anybody else in connection with this incident.

“However, I am appealing to anybody that was in the area of Wood Farm Road last night who believes that they witnessed this incident, or events leading up to it, to contact police.

“I appreciate that this incident will cause concern in the local community, but I would like to re-assure the public that there is no wider threat.

“We have scene-watches in place in the vicinity of Foresters Tower and a further scene-watch in nearby Bonar Road."

DCI Bosley also said that police are still working to contact next of kin for the man who died, while the woman's next of kin have been informed and are being supported by officers.

Oxford City Councillor Mark Lygo, who is one of the local councillors for the area, went to the flats yesterday morning and knocked on 'every door' to reassure residents.

He said: "Wood Farm is a very safe place to live. We are shocked and saddened to hear of these tragic events.

"Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those affected.

“We knocked on every door in Foresters Tower and spoke to almost half of the households to reassure them and to let them know that if there is any further help they need, the council is there for them.

“If residents need anything, they can contact me or, if they are City Council tenants, their tenancy manager. My contact details are on the City Council’s website.”

Police have not confirmed if the woman lived in the fourth floor flat or if anybody else was inside at the time.