The wife's body was found in Cofton Park Close, Rednal, 40 minutes after her husband's was discovered in Linforth Drive, Streetly

It is believed Amy, aged 32, was murdered by her husband James in Cofton Park Close this morning, before he killed himself in his parents' garden 23 miles away in Steetly.

Just two-and-a-half hours before, 30-year-old James updated his Facebook profile picture to one of the couple on their wedding day.

The couple lived in a modern £190,000 semi-detached house, where they were described by neighbours as 'a perfectly normal, friendly couple'.

Residents of the street recalled hearing a burglar alarm going off shortly before the tragedy.

A student who lives nearby, who would only give his name as John, said: "I was here last night with my dog, and I heard an alarm go at the house at about 11pm.

"It ended very quickly, though, so I thought nothing of it and went to bed.

"When I woke up this morning and found out what had happened, I couldn't really believe it to be honest.

"It's such a quiet place, that no one really believed that something like that could happen.

"It's baffling why someone would do that. Your heart goes out to them. It just shows that you never know what's going on in people's heads.

"You only really hear about things like this on the TV. You never expect that it's going to happen outside your doorstep one day."

Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: "I am just simply numb from what we've heard so far. I cannot believe it.

"I wasn't aware they had any problems because they just seemed like the perfect pair who were just really starting their lives as a married couple together.

"I can't really say much more than that as I'm still in complete shock. They were really friendly and I just feel so sad this had happened. Such a tragedy."

West Midlands Police said officers discovered a woman's body at the Rednal property shortly after midnight, 40 minutes after ambulance staff found her husband dead in Linforth Drive, Streetly.

West Midlands Ambulance Service confirmed crews were called to Cofton Park Close at 12.45am, with two ambulances, a paramedic officer and West Midlands Care Team attending the scene.

A spokesman said: "On arrival, crews discovered a woman who was in cardiac arrest.

“Unfortunately, it quickly became apparent that nothing could be done to save her and she was confirmed deceased.”

An investigation into the deaths is ongoing and detectives are not currently looking for any other suspects.

Both areas remain cordoned off while officers carry out enquiries.