TEN people from Dover and Canterbury have been arrested by police officers investigating a double murder in Cornwall.

Officers the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary joined officers from the Kent Police in a joint operation resulting today in the arrests.

The operation was part an investigation into a series of serious criminal offences, including the murders of 53-year-old Carol Fisher and husband Graham, 60, in Cornwall and burglary in Devon.

Police said those arrested are being detained at Folkestone police station where interviews will be carried out.

The Fishers, who owned and ran a local garage, were brutally murdered at their home near Wadebridge, Cornwall, overnight on November 5 and 6. Both had been subjected to a vicious assault before being shot with a shotgun.

Cash and valuables were found at the address but no clear motive for the murders has emerged.

The Senior Investigating Officer from Devon and Cornwall, Detective Superintendent Stuart Newberry, said: “Mr and Mrs Fisher were murdered in the most horrific of circumstances in their own home on Bonfire Night. These arrests are the continuation of just one of a number of lines of enquiry being looked at by my team.

“The inquiry generally is making good progress. We have had a good response to appeals for information in the Southwest. However, needless to say anyone in the Kent area with information relating to my investigation is asked to contact us. I am grateful for the immense assistance provided by Kent Police Serious Crime Unit in the execution of this operation today.”

Due to the seriousness of the offence the Crimestoppers Trust has agreed to a £10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest, and charge of those responsible for the murders.

Vice chairwoman of the Devon and Cornwall Crimestoppers Board, Emma Northey said: “These murders horrified not just the local community in Cornwall but people from throughout the country. If by putting forward the offer of this reward it means someone will phone Crimestoppers and give us the names of those responsible it will be worth every pound.”

The phone number for the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary is 08452 777 444, the investigation incident room is at Bodmin Police Station on 01208 264228, and Crimestoppers is on 0800 555 111, to which calls are free and confidential.