THE attacker thought to have been behind the murders of an elderly Kendal couple has been identified by regional police.

Police reportedly have the name of the 'prime suspect' linked to the suspected killing of two Kendalians, as forces across the North West begin to re-examine a string of murder-suicides including one in the South Lakes town.

The February 2011 deaths of Stanley and Peggie Wilson, who were found dead in their home, had been officially recorded as a murder-suicide when the county coroner analysed the events surrounding the the pair’s death that year.

Those events, as well as the particulars of four other couples thought to have been targeted across the North West, are being re-examined after a senior coroner's office report raised fresh questions over the verdicts handed down in each case.

A male who lives in the north of England has been identified by name in the report, but his identity can not be disclosed publicly for legal reasons.

According to the Sunday Times, he has strongly denied any involvement in the suspected killings.

Mr and Mrs Wilson (then 92 and 89, respectively) were found in their bedroom on February 18, 2011.

Mrs Wilson had sustained a blow to the head along with cuts to her neck. Meanwhile, Mr Wilson was discovered with cuts to his neck and body.

Until this summer, it had been a closed case.

But, last month, a report by by Cheshire Police's chief coroner's officer, Stephanie Davies, cast fresh doubts over coroner conclusions, sparking fresh re-examinations. The 179-page report is currently being reviewed by Cumbria Police, along with two other regional forces.

Commenting on the new developments this week, Westmorland and Lonsdale MP, Tim Farron, said: “This is hopefully a good step forward in bringing about justice for the families of the victims of these horrible attacks.

“I hope that the police are given all the resources they need to catch the suspect.”