A mother and her two children, who are believed to have been murdered by their father, died from head injuries, an inquest has heard.

Nothabo Zandile Tshuma, 42, and her daughters Natalie, 15, and Nala, five, were found dead by police in a house in Great Denham, near Bedford, on 7 July.

Coroner Emma Whitting opened and adjourned an inquest into their deaths at a hearing in Ampthill, Bedfordshire, on Tuesday.

Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, 45, who is Nothabo’s husband, was arrested in South Africa earlier this month and UK prosecutors have authorised murder charges against him.

Statements from the coroner’s officers revealed the mother died from “head injuries” while the children’s cause of death was listed as “blunt force head injuries”.

The inquest was adjourned to a date to be determined.

Sam Silk, from the coroner’s office, said a cousin of Nothabo contacted Bedfordshire Police on 6 July after becoming concerned for the family’s welfare.