RELATIVES of the family apparently "poisoned" while on holiday in Corfu today paid tribute to the two children who died.

The parents of Ruth Beatson spoke as they flew to the Greek island to be at the bedside of their daughter, who is in a coma.

Their comments came as Greek pathologists prepared to conduct a post-mortem examination today on Miss Beatson's partner's two children Christianne, seven, and Robert, six, who were found dead in a hotel bungalow.

Helen and Stephen Beatson, of Horbury, were told last night that their daughter and her partner Neil Shepherd were in intensive care after being found unconscious in the bungalow.

Police said they may have been poisoned.

Mrs Beatson said she and her husband had taken the first available flight to see their daughter.

Fighting back tears, she said: "They were gorgeous children. That's all we want to say.

"We are just part of the family. It is our daughter. The children's mum would be very upset."

Mr Beatson said they learned of what had happened to their daughter when police officers knocked on their door in Horbury, where their daughter and partner also live.

He said he believed police officers may be investigating if carbon monoxide poisoning was behind the tragedy.

He said: "They had gone away for a half term break. They were due back on Monday.

"We have absolutely no idea what has happened.

"We want to be here to be with our daughter."

Mr Shepherd, 38, and Miss Beatson, 27, were rushed from the five-star Louis Corcyra hotel complex in Gouvia, on the island's east coast, to the hospital in Corfu Town after a cleaner discovered the family.

Medical staff said it will take up to 48 hours to get the results of toxicology tests.

Post-mortem examinations will be carried out on the two children today but all samples will be taken to a university on the Greek mainland for further investigations.

A police spokesman said an initial investigation led them to believe the family had been poisoned and officers were investigating whether they had eaten something, possibly mushrooms.

He said: "I stress this is only a possibility as we are still investigating the deaths."

He added:

"We hope to get the results back after two or three days, to confirm if it is poison."

The coroner, interviewed on local television, said the children may have been dead for 10 hours when they were found.

According to reports, the two children lived with Mr Shepherd's ex-wife Sharon Aspey, a dance teacher who lives in Horbury.

Last night Ms Aspey was being comforted by relatives.