Tributes have flooded in to a ‘bubbly and affectionate’ six-year-old schoolgirl who was found dead in her house with her father.
Mark Gordon, 36, and his daughter Hope, six, were discovered inside the home in West Lothian, Scotland, on Monday.
Concerns were raised after the little girl failed to turn up to school. Police rushed to the home in Harburn Drive, West Calder, at around 4pm.
Firefighters then helped officers gain access to the house, with two bodies being found inside.
Police Scotland has now said the deaths are being treated as unexplained and post-mortem examinations will take place in due course.
Hope’s school said she will be ‘hugely missed’ and called her a ‘bright, bubbly and affectionate girl who brought joy to everyone she met’.
Toronto Primary School Headteacher Fiona Linfoot said: ‘Hope was a much-loved member of the Toronto Primary family, and will be hugely missed by all her friends and school staff.
‘She was a bright, bubbly and affectionate girl who brought joy to everyone she met. We will really miss her infectious smile and kind heart.
Six-year-old schoolgirl Hope was called ‘bubbly and affectionate’ by her school in a tribute
Mark Gordon, 36, and his daughter Hope, six, were found dead inside a house in West Lothian, Scotland
‘We would ask everyone to respect the privacy of her family and the school community at this difficult time.
‘Help and support is available to any of our pupils, or staff, affected by this tragic news.’
Leader of West Lothian Council Lawrence Fitzpatrick added: ‘Understandably the local community will be in shock and this shock extends across West Lothian.
‘Our deepest sympathies are with the family of those affected by this tragic incident.
‘Our education officers and school staff are offering the local school community the appropriate support and reassurance at this very difficult time.’
A spokesperson for the Health and Social Care Partnership said: ‘We would offer our deepest condolences to the family. We cannot discuss any individual or individual family circumstance.
‘It would also not be appropriate to comment further whilst an active police investigation is underway.’
Sky News reported that police had previous contact with the family ‘at various points’ but officers said there is nothing ‘connected to this incident that causes any concern’.
The little girl – of whom the parents had shared custody – had been staying with her father for ‘a period of time’.
The force added there is nothing to suggest anyone else was involved in their deaths at this time.
They said a team of officers from Police Scotland’s Major Investigation Team and the local division are involved in the investigation.
Firefighters helped officers gain access to the house after the alarm was raised at around 4pm and found the bodies of Mark Gordon (pictured) and six-year-old Hope
A police cordon at the scene on Harburn Drive, West Calder in West Lothian, Scotland, after the deaths of a 36-year-old man and a six-year-old girl
There will continue to be a significant police presence in the area while the investigation is ongoing, including uniformed and plain-clothed officers.
Detective Chief Inspector Bob Williamson, of the Major Investigation Team, said: ‘Our thoughts remain with the man and girl’s relatives at this extremely difficult time and they continue to be supported by specialist officers.
‘They are understandably devastated and it is vital we get answers for them.
‘At this time, we have no information to suggest anyone else is involved and our enquiries are continuing.
‘I would ask that anyone with any information, no matter how small or insignificant you think it is, gets in touch with officers.’
Chief Inspector Elaine McArthur-Kerr, local area commander, said: ‘We understand the significant impact this will have on the local community and I would like to thank everyone for their help so far.
‘This incident is very upsetting and worrying for the people living in this community and would ask anyone with any concerns to speak to us.
‘A police presence will remain in the area while we carry out investigations and anyone with any concerns, or information, can approach these officers.’
Police said the deaths are being treated as unexplained and post-mortem examinations will take place in due course
Officers found the bodies of Mark and Hope at an address in West Calder, Scotland, at around 4pm on Monday
Shortly before emergency services were alerted to the house, people were seen knocking on the door to no answer
The tragedy came just days after neighbours said they saw the girl playing in the garden. Shortly before emergency services were alerted, people were seen knocking on the door to no answer.
Isabel Girdwood, 91, said: ‘On Monday there were two girls that came to his door and they knocked on the door and they got no answer, and they walked up to the car park and there was a woman sitting in the car.’
The retired lollipop lady said the pair, who were in their 20s, did not appear concerned.
She said she did not see much activity at the property and only knew somebody was in when the ‘bathroom light was on’.
Mrs Girdwood said: ‘He never mixed with anybody, he never went near anybody and he never seemed to have any visitors.’
One neighbour, who did not want to be identified, told how she saw a girl playing outside at the weekend.
The neighbour said: ‘She was out the front of the house on Saturday, she was seen. It was very rare to see anybody, I actually thought the house was empty and didn’t think anyone was there any more.’
Locals said the man had not lived in the area for long.
Councillor Craig Meek said the community would be ‘shocked to the core’ after the incident (pictured: Police at the scene)
The force said a team of officers from Police Scotland’s Major Investigation Team and the local division are involved in the investigation
One said: ‘I did not think he was there, I have not seen him in a long time. I thought the property had been lying empty, but obviously not.’
Those living in the area have been left shaken. One estate resident said: ‘It’s upsetting but nobody really knows what’s happened yet.
‘There’s a lot of speculation, and we have seen what has been on the news, but all we know is there has been a small child and man found. It’s tragic.’
On Monday, detectives were seen making door-to-door inquires in the area. Some people leaving their homes to make their way to work spoke of their surprise at the scale of the police cordon.
One resident said: ‘It’s frightening. You don’t know what’s happened. I got the shock of my life when I came out. That’s the first time I knew of it.
‘It’s very, very confusing because you don’t know what’s happened.’
Councillor Craig Meek said yesterday the community would be ‘shocked to the core’.
He said: ‘It is important at a time like this that the community is given the time to understand what’s happened and also come together to support each other.’
Local MP Gregor Poynton said he was ‘sorry to learn about the tragic deaths’ and added that Police Scotland would have an ‘increased presence’ in the area.
The house in which the pair were found was close to a primary school, but yesterday a spokesperson for West Lothian Council said: ‘Other than its proximity to the reported incident, we have reassured parents and pupils that this incident has no connection to Parkhead Primary School.’
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