A man who killed himself and his four young sons at a North Wales beauty spot today told his wife of his plan shortly before poisoning himself and his children.
Their bodies were found following a frantic manhunt by police from two counties after the man made the phone call to his estranged wife. The man had locked himself and his children in his and pumped in exhaust fumes.
The boys' mother was said to be "absolutely distraught" and was being comforted by relatives following the incident in the early hours of this morning.
It is thought he took the children, who were aged three, five, six and seven, to Wales yesterday as part of an arranged access visit.
Police were alerted after he telephoned the boys' mother at her home in the Winsford area of Cheshire, shortly after midnight and threatened to harm himself and their children.
The woman, dialled 999 and a search was launched.
Police were able to trace the mobile phone call to North Wales and alerted patrols. A police dog handler found the car less than two hours later.
He smashed the car window to drag the children out and tried to give them first aid but they were all declared dead on arrival at Wrexham Maelor Hospital.
Deputy chief constable Bill Brereton said the incident was "horrendous beyond my belief".
PA