Thieves stripped lead from a house where two people died earlier this year in broad daylight.

Two thieves - described as teenagers - were spotted on the roof of the unoccupied house on the Old Abingdon Road near Redbridge Park and Ride in Oxford at about 1pm today.

Police arrived but the thieves had fled after stealing lead from a bay roof at the front of the house which has been empty for the past ten months.

A witness, who did not want to be named, said: "There were two teenagers with a step ladder and one had a screwdriver.

"They were taking the lead off the roof.

"I've heard about people stripping metal from roofs all round the country but surprised to see it happening in broad daylight."

In the past two months lead has been stripped from garages in Kidlington, homes, a church, pub and village hall in South Oxfordshire and Temple Cowley Swimming Pool.

The house on Old Abingdon Road has been empty since suffering a fire on January 2 this year killing Howard Blake, 51, and Sian Sanchez, 36.

James Cox, 62, of Albion Place denies murder.