According to French daily Le Parisien the first reports from the scene suggested that all five victims died from having their throats slit.

Quoting sources close to the police investigation regional newspaper Midi-Libre also reported that the three children, aged 4, 11, and 16, had ‘in all likelihood, been killed with a knife.’

However police colonel Pierre Poty later told press the theory all five had had their throats cut was “not exactly correct.”

The dead couple are believed to be a 50-year-old man, originally from the West Indies and his 40-year-old partner.

Neighbours on the quiet, suburban rue des Grives in the Garons suburb have described their shock and sadness at the deaths. “They were such lovely people,” said one.

As speculation mounts over the cause of the five deaths Colonel Poty refused to confirm rumours that they were the result of “a domestic tragedy”, but added that “no theory has been ruled out.”

The public prosecutor in Nimes, Laure Beccuau, has scheduled a press conference for later on Tuesday morning, where she is expected to reveal further details on the deaths.