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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Jim Hardy

Little girl orphaned after her mum, 19, and dad, 23, die at 'house party'

A little girl has been orphaned after her parents died following a 'house party' in Norwich.

Police believe the deaths of Billy Applegate, 23, and Gaynor Robinson, 19, were 'drug related' and not suspicious.

The couple have not yet been officially named but tributes are being paid to them locally.

One friend said on social media: "Can't believe what I just heard - so shocked.

"RIP Gaynor and Billy. My heart goes out to your little girl and your family."

The pair got engaged on August 24 last year and lived with their daughter in a ground-floor flat in Providence Place, a cul-de-sac off Quebec Road about half-a-mile from Norwich Cathedral.

Emergency services were called just after 10am on Saturday to the block of flats, where it is believed a party had been held and several other people were inside.

Gaynor Robinson, 19, and partner Billy got engaged last August (WESSEX NEWS AGENCY)

A neighbour, who asked not to be named, said "A woman came down earlier and was screaming the place down."

Another added: "I came out after I heard a woman shouting.

"The couple moved in at Christmas and they have just been like normal neighbours. It is just very sad."

Residents said the area was 'generally peaceful and quiet' but one Providence Place resident said there had been 'some police activity' a few weeks ago.

He added: "We all click around here. Those of us who know each other look after each other."

A call from the ambulance service sent police rushing to the flat at 9.50am on Saturday morning.

Norfolk Police said they discovered a 23-year-old man and a 19-year-old girl who were both declared dead at the scene.

Five police cars and forensics were in attendance and at one point six ambulances were there along with specialist fire service vehicles from Carrow and Sprowston.

The fire service were called at 9.56am and arrived on the scene at 10.04am.

They helped the emergency services gain entry to the property before leaving at 10.09am.

Emergency services were called just before 10am on Saturday (Getty)

The fire service have said they thought that gas could have been involved but left once they established this was not the case.

One woman, who has lived in the cul-de-sac for 12 years, and who asked not to be identified, said she had been out between around 8am and 10am and returned to find the area flooded with emergency services vehicles.

She said "It is nice around here, it is quiet. We have never had any problems, apart from when England played in the World Cup and the bookies on the corner got done over."

Another resident, who has lived close to nearby St Matthew's Church for 20 years, said: "There are a few new people who have moved in round there.

"They are alright to me and my husband but at night time they scream and shout."

A resident from a neighbouring block in Providence Place said "I didn't want to put my dog out as people were outside shouting.

"There have been people coming and going at certain points from the block, but there has not been a lot of trouble recently."

It comes weeks after Mr Applegate and another man, described as his friend, were at the centre of a police search in Norwich in March when they went missing.

There were fears for their safety but the hunt was called off when they were found safe.

At the time, Ms Robinson issued a photo of Billy and said the blonde-haired little girl pictured with him was his daughter Daisy.

Ms Robinson was quoted as saying of the two men "They left my flat around 3am to meet someone on Dereham Road.

"They both have their phones but they're off and they're both very depressed.

"I just want Billy to know I'm not angry at all, I just want to know he's safe and to come home.

"Me and his daughter miss him loads."

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