Man suspected of 2 killings in Yorkshire

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CLEVELAND, England, April 27 (UPI) -- Police in northern England were involved in a massive manhunt Thursday for a man believed to have killed two people who were alone in their homes.

James Allen, 35, was named as a suspect in the killings of Colin Dunford, 81, of Middlesbrough, and Julie Davison, 50, of Whitby, both in Yorkshire, The Guardian reported. Dunford's body was found after he failed to turn up Monday at the working men's club where he was a daily visitor, while Davison's sister found her body Wednesday.

Both died from head injuries, police said.

"Anyone who can carry out such callous acts needs to be caught as a matter of urgency," Temporary Detective Chief Superintendent Gordon Lang said. "We have over 100 officers working on the incident to trace Allen, and we are focusing our efforts in Cleveland and in the Whitby area of North Yorkshire."

Dunford was last seen alive late Sunday afternoon. Investigators said a man with a mountain bicycle was seen near Davison's home at about 6:30 a.m. Wednesday.