The building where police found the bodies of two women involved in a suspected double suicide remains guarded by officers.

Residents at Norman Court, in Lower Richmond Road, Putney, were advised to leave their homes this morning after police discovered the bodies of two women, thought to be in their 20s, who died from what officers believe to be "chemical poisoning".

Their deaths are not being treated as suspicious and no arrests have been made.

Neighbours today reported the women had taped the windows of their second floor flat closed before killing themselves.

Concern has already been raised that their deaths may have been the outcome of a copycat suicide pact.

Joanne Lee and Stephen Lumb gassed themselves in a car in Braintree, Essex, using hydrogen sulphide last week.

Suzanne Viggers, who lives opposite the flat, told journalists at the scene an African woman had lived there for a few months.

She said someone who knew the woman well had told her she had become interested in suicide and had been collecting chemicals to kill herself. Nothing is yet known about the other woman.

Allwyn Matthew, 19, who works in Cochin Brasserie opposite Norman Court, said he was worried it "could be a growing trend".

A neighbouring trader, who did not want to be named, said he had been told various accounts as to what happened by residents living in the flat block.

He said: "One woman said they called the police and said they were going to commit suicide."

However, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Police, while not able to confirm or deny the report, said he was "not aware of that being the case".

Police were called at 10.42am and were initially joined by about 15 firefighters amid reports of a chemical leak.

Mr Matthew said at one point there were "20 cars, 20 police and six or seven fire engines".

He added: "It was like a terrorist operation."

Residents have been allowed to return to their homes but must cross guarded police cordons to get in and out.

An officer at the scene said he expected the police lines to be in place throughout the night while their investigation continued.

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