A huge manhunt is under way for a Lithuanian builder with links to south-east London following the double murder of a man and woman in a village house.

The victims, believed to have been in their 50s, are suspected to have died from stab wounds in an attack at The Copse in Fetcham, Surrey.

Another resident at the detached property, registered to Gillian and Patrick Kettyle, raised the alarm after discovering their bodies at around 12.30am today.

Detectives said they are urgently trying to trace 38-year-old Viktoras Bruzas in connection with the killings and urged the public not to approach him.

A man in his 30s has been arrested in Walton-on-Thames in connection with the inquiry, on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder.

The two suspects and the middle-aged victims were known to each other.

Bruzas, from Walton-on-Thames, is likely to be in Sussex and may be driving a black Mercedes, registration AU11 WJY, police said. He also has links to south-east London.

Bruzas's Facebook profile discloses that he was born in Kaunas in Lithuania, has worked as a self-employed builder since March 1999, and likes Chelsea FC.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Preston, of the Surrey and Sussex major crime team, said: "This is a tragic incident where two people have lost their lives and our thoughts are with their family at this extremely difficult time.

"We are still in the very early stages of the investigation but we need to trace Viktoras Bruzas as a matter of urgency. I would urge members of the public not to approach him but to call Surrey Police immediately if they know his whereabouts.

"A large number of officers from Surrey and Sussex are working on locating Mr Bruzas."

At the scene, police tape was stretched across the street to cordon off a large area outside the house, while shocked residents chatted in the road.

The home where the bodies were found is a two-storey detached house with a brick-paved drive and neat bushes at the front.

Forensics officers in white suits and wearing masks over their mouths were seen going in and out of the property.

One elderly neighbour said: "It is just a very sad event, anywhere, but it is a quiet neighbourhood. A lot of the people have been here a very long time.

"Fetcham is probably a commuter area. Any property around here is probably expensive because an awful lot of people work up in London, but also quite a few people are retired and have lived here a long time, which is my situation.

"We would think it is a very safe community. I can't remember anything like this ever happening around here. This is all a bit of a surprise."

Police vehicles, vans belonging to forensics officers and a mobile command centre were parked in the quiet street, which is lined with detached houses linked by garages.

Mr Preston said: "Fetcham is a small, close-knit community and this incident is likely to have a lasting impact on the village, but we will have specialist and neighbourhood officers in the area working with residents while they come to terms with these tragic events. I ask that the privacy of those closely affected by this incident is respected at this time."

Anyone with information is asked to call Surrey Police on 101, or 999 in an emergency, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

At around 11am, police extended the cordon to cover a larger part of The Copse, including a separate section at one end of the road.

Speaking at the scene, Detective Superintendent Nick May, head of the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, said the man arrested earlier today was not Bruzas, and that police believe he is now likely to be in the Sussex area.

Mr May said: "We do believe that the victims and Mr Bruzas were known to each other and it is vital that we locate him as soon as possible."