THE Burnley lodger accused of murdering his landlady and her mother in Southport invented a ‘Russian spy’ story to cover his tracks then killed himself, an inquest heard.

Barry Morrow, 52, was found hanged in his cell at HMP Manchester, formerly known as Strangeways, while awaiting trial over the deaths of his ex-partner Angela Holgate, 54, and her mother 75-year-old Alice Huyton.

They were found strangled at Mrs Holgate's Southport home on December 3.

At the inquest into the two women’s deaths yesterday, Sefton Coroner Christopher Sumner was told that police believe Morrow, who was originally from Brush Street, Burnley, had killed the women and that there was no evidence anybody else was involved.

Giving evidence, DCI Alyson O'Donnell, of Merseyside Police, said Mrs Holgate and the dad-of-one had been lovers before he moved into her semi-detached house in Fairhaven Road as a paying-lodger.

The officer told the hearing at Southport Town Hall that Mrs Holgate had hoped to resume the relationship but Morrow had refused and she was thinking of asking him to move out.

On November 25 the couple went to the Lake District for a two-night break but suddenly returned home the next day, with Morrow telling hotel staff they had to attend a family emergency.

It was the last time Tesco worker Mrs Holgate, the mother of two daughters, was seen alive.

Morrow became one of Britain’s most wanted men, sparking a Europe-wide manhunt after going on the run after the killings.

After a five-day hunt, during which he made contact with the Lancashire Telegraph via Facebook, he arranged to hand himself in to police after consulting his Burnley-based solicitor Keith Rennison, of Donald Race and Newton.

Police officers then charged Morrow with two counts of murder.

DCI O'Donnell said Mrs Holgate met the former Ivy Bank High School and Hargher Clough Junior School pupil, about four years ago.

That was when she was given a gift of a “flying experience” at the Flight Academy in Blackpool where he worked as a co-ordinator.

A short time later, the divorced father-of-one contacted her and they began dating.

But the relationship initially ended after a “few months”, DCI O'Donnell said, because Mrs Holgate felt things were "moving too quickly".

DCI O’Donnell said: “However, shortly afterwards Morrow moved into Angela's house as a lodger, occupying the downstairs front room.

“Recently, it is believed that Angela may have wanted the relationship to become physical again rather than the friendship they had."