Two teenagers found dead at Bothenhampton Nature Reserve

Officers were called to Bothenhampton Nature Reserve, Bothenhampton, near Bridport, on Tuesday morning where, sadly, the bodies of two young people were discovered.

Dorset Police say there are no suspicious circumstances.

Picture: MaxWillcock/BNPS

But they added that the force had referred itself to the police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), over the matter.

The families have been informed and the coroner has been notified.

The country lane leading to the beauty spot and an underground reservoir was cordoned off by police.

An ambulance, fire engine, and police cars filled the narrow lane until the early evening.

Paul Williams, who lives in one of the houses on the lane, said: "The whole road was taped off. A dog walker found them. A police community support officer came here yesterday looking for CCTV but there isn't any."

Picture: MaxWillcock/BNPS

Another man, who wished not to be named, added: "It's dreadful. Certainly not something you expect to happen on your doorstep.

"Police and an ambulance were here from 10am until 5pm. The fire engine had difficulty getting access (to the reserve)."

Another resident described the location where it happened as 'beautiful and quiet'.

He said: "It's quite worrying that something like that could happen here."

One of the women who frequently walks her dog through the reserve said: "I was about to go for a walk with my friend. We could hear all these sirens but it was only when we started walking up the hill that we realised it was on our doorstep. It was quite a shock.

"It's a very frequent area for dog walkers but I always get the impression there are other things going on in the woods. Lots of paths leading through the undergrowth into little dens and clearings.

"I wouldn't go down there by myself. My dog doesn't like it there sometimes."

Mayor of Bridport, Ian Bark, said he was shocked to hear the news and offered his condolences to the families.

He said: “My sympathies go out to the friends and families of these young people.

“It’s very sad to hear that two people who are both so young have died.”

The discovery was made in the area of the reservoir at the southern end of the reserve.

Bothenhampton resident Joe Hackett said: "It's an awful thing to happen and we have never had anything like this happen around here.

"It's very upsetting and the community can't believe what has happened.

"It's the last thing you expect to happen in such a quiet community.

"It will likely leave the area in shock for some time because there has only been rumours about what happened. Our community has not had confirmation."

A spokeswoman from Dorset Police said: "At 10.11am on Tuesday, 25 January we received a report of two people, a girl and a man – both in their late teens, having been found dead at Wych Hill.

"To be precise, the location given was Bothenhampton Reservoir, Wych Hill.

"Officers attended. There are no suspicious circumstances.

"Their next of kin have been informed and the coroner notified."