- .Mother, named as Tania Clarence, 42, arrested on suspicion of murder
- .Twin boys aged 3 and sister, 4, found dead in their home last night
- .Children believed to be called Max, Ben and sister Olivia
- .All children are said to be disabled with spinal muscular atrophy
- .Mother already pregnant with twins when Olivia's condition was diagnosed
- .The couple's eldest daughter, eight, is not disabled
- .Father Gary Clarence is returning from South Africa where he had been with eldest child
- .Police are still quizzing the woman at a south London police station
A mother arrested on suspicion of murdering her three disabled children was struggling to cope because they suffered from a genetic condition that left them unable to walk, friends said today.
Tania Clarence, 42, has been held over the deaths of her three-year-old twins, named locally as a Ben and Max, and their sister Olivia, four, who were found dead in the £1.5million New Malden family home last night.
The three children were believed to have had spinal muscular atrophy, which left Olivia in a wheelchair and the two boys unable to move.
Their investment banker father Gary Clarence, who works for City firm Investec, has been in South Africa, and is understood to be with the couple's eldest daughter, eight, who is not disabled.
Murder investigation: Investment banker Gary Clarence is flying back to the UK from South Africa after three of his four children were found dead at home (pictured here with his twin sons)
Probe: Police have launched a murder investigation and have arrested a 43-year-old woman, believed to be mother Tania Clarence, who is in custody
Scene: Police guard a grand property in New Malden, south London, where the bodies of three children were found last night
Friends have said that Olivia's developmental problems were only discovered when she was two, and Mrs Clarence was pregnant with the twins.
A series of tests revealed that the couple carried the disease and their children might not live into their teens.
'They realised their daughter was not developing properly and then discovered this awful genetic condition,' a friend told the Evening Standard.
'The twins could not function at all. They had no muscle strength whatsoever. It was so devastating.
'Her life was just so difficult. Always having different carers in and out of the house, transforming everything to make it accessible for wheelchairs. It was just so much to cope with.'
Graphic designer Mrs Clarence is in custody today. She was taken to hospital at around 9.30pm with minor injuries and later arrested on suspicion of murder.
Neighbours left flowers, teddies and handwritten prayers outside their home today and described them as a 'lovely family'.
One note left outside the Victorian property said: 'RIP Angels, shine down on us from heaven and light up the starry sky'.
The family had moved into the property nine months ago after a major refurbishment, including a lift and ramps for their disabled children.
Blue and pink toys belonging to the children could still be seen outside the extended property today.
Poignant: Plants, candles and teddies were left outside the house in New Malden today as the community reacted to the deaths
Support: A woman brings flowers to the scene in New Malden while a card printed with the 23rd Psalm is stuck to a fence outside the house
Moved: A policeman lays flowers on behalf of grieving neighbour at the property in Thetford Road, New Malden
Moving: This message was one of many left at the house today as the community paid tribute to the children who died last night
Neighbours said Mr and Mrs Clarence are 'really lovely people'.
'They are a very, very lovely couple. I saw them all the time about with their children', one said.
'They are very nice people and very, very decent. She is such a lovely person -her life revolves around the children'.
She said the family have a nanny and help from carers.
Hayley Bullivant, 28, from New Malden, laid flowers on the driveway of the house in Thetford Road.
The former nanny, now mother to a 21-month-old son, said she did not know the family.
'It is not going to make any difference to the family but we wanted to show that we care,' she said.
'It is a tragedy and such a shock to wake up and read that this has happened on your doorstep.'
Energy Secretary Ed Davey, MP for Kingston and Surbiton said: 'Awful news about the three children found dead in house in New Malden. Thoughts are with family, friends and neighbours.'
New Malden councillor Ken Smith said he was contacted by the family some months ago with concerns about the uneven pavement outside the house.
He said: 'She pointed out the pavement was a bit of a mess. The work was done within days.
'The woman had been concerned about getting her children’s wheelchairs into the car. They spent a tremendous amount of money modifying the house for the children. They put a lift inside so the children could be moved about.
'She absolutely doted on the children.
'When I spoke to the lady she was very, very concerned about the children and that they were looked after properly'.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: 'The three children - a girl aged four and two boys aged three - were pronounced dead at the scene. Next of kin have been informed.
'The woman, aged 42, was taken to hospital for treatment to minor injuries and later discharged.
'She was arrested on suspicion of murder and taken into custody at a south London where she remains.
'The Homicide and Major Crime Command is investigating and incident room has opened in Sutton under Detective Chief Inspector Diane Tudway.
'Detectives are not looking for anyone else in connection with this incident.'
Michele Bacchus, 38, said she was at home just a few doors away when two crying women knocked on her door at around 10.30pm.
She said: The younger woman was crying silently and couldn't speak, the other had a South African accent.
'We got the impression they had come here because of what had happened at the house.'
She continued: 'They were sobbing and very upset.
'I don't know if it was them that the found the family. It was awful.'
The three disabled children found dead at their home in New Malden are understood to have attended Bedelsford School, a school for the disabled in Kingston.
A spokesperson for Bedelsford School in Kingston said: 'We are deeply saddened to hear of the deaths of three children from Kingston.
'Our thoughts and sympathy are with the family.
'We are unable to make any further comment on this as it is an ongoing police investigation.'
A forensics teams has spent several hours in the house and post mortem examinations will be carried out on the children today
A forensics officer enters the property as the murder investigation continues today
Location: The children were found dead in a house in New Malden, south-west London
The family were said by one neighbour to have a live-in nanny and a maid.
'The children were handicapped but despite this they seemed perfectly happy. I don't think I ever saw the girl out of the buggy,' said Joyce Davis, aged 86 years.
'The boys could walk a little bit. The oldest girl was alright. I think she is with her father in South Africa.
'They went over there a lot because they were South African.
'I last saw them a day or two ago and everything seemed fine.
'I definitely got the impression that they were good parents and they were a happy family.
Ethel Winstanley, who lives opposite the couple, said she had met the family last summer and congratulated them on the 'transformation' of the house after its refurbishment.
'The man was called Gary, that is all I know. We went across to say "Congratulations, you have made the street look wonderful".'
Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, said she met the couple a fortnight ago at a barbecue in the neighbourhood.
'They were very friendly. He played golf and he had been playing golf that morning.
'We were out last night dancing and when we came home there were police cars and ambulances outside.'
Crime scene: Police remain at the house today as they piece together what happened to the children
Grand: The home has been extensively refurbished to make it suitable for the family's disabled children
Mr Clarence was understood to be flying home after hearing the news.
He works in the city in corporate finance and brokerage for investment banking firm Investec.
The 43-year-old is in charge of a team of five, advising clients on acquisitions, disposals, fundraisings and strategic reviews.
He joined the firm in 1999 after qualifying and practising as a solicitor.
Starting in corporate finance, he spent 18 months in Investec's US office and since 2004 has specialised in the healthcare sector. He is currently listed as a director and head of healthcare.
He gained a law degree from Stellenbosch University in South Africa before completing an MBA from the Netherlands Business School at Nijenrode University, in Holland.
An Investec spokesman said: 'Gary Clarence is a valued colleague and has worked with us for many years. We do not know the facts at this time but our thoughts are with the Clarence family. We are doing all that we can to help Gary and his eldest child and ask that their privacy is respected.'
A police officer was standing on the doorstep of the address this morning.
Post mortem examinations were expected to be carried out on the three children later today to establish the cause of their deaths.
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