Pictured: Mother and her disabled daughter who were found dead inside their home where their bodies lay undiscovered for 'months'

A mother and her disabled daughter who were found dead at their home after their bodies lay undiscovered for 'months' have been pictured for the first time.

Alphonsine Djiako Leuga, in her 40s, and her daughter in her 20s, were found by police on Tuesday after 'concerns were raised' about their wellbeing.

Residents said they hadn't seen the pair 'for months' and said they thought the younger woman could have had Down's Syndrome.

One neighbour reported hearing what she thought at the time was animal cries coming from the vicinity of the property some months ago.

The mother believed to have lain dead alongside her disabled daughter for 'months' before their bodies were discovered at their home fled an abusive relationship in Italy before settling in the UK.

Alphonsine Djiako Leuga, in her 40s, and her daughter in her 20s, were found by police on Tuesday after 'concerns were raised' about their wellbeing

Residents said they hadn't seen the pair 'for months' and said they thought the younger woman could have had Down's Syndrome

The mother believed to have lain dead alongside her disabled daughter for 'months' before their bodies were discovered at their home fled an abusive relationship in Italy before settling in the UK

The mother was taken in by a Good Samaritan who found her on a city centre street with her two daughters around seven years ago.

Tatiane Nulah told how she housed the trio after finding them sat on the pavement with their luggage outside Nottingham's Victoria Centre mall.

Ms Nulah, 42, recognised the family as a friend from her church had previously taken Alphonsine in when she travelled to Nottingham to see if she should flee there with her kids.

Ms Nulah said Alphonsine, who like her was originally from Cameroon, 'didn't know anybody and had nowhere to go' and recalled she had two daughters, the youngest of whom, then aged nine or ten, was disabled and couldn't talk.

Ms Nulah, 42, said the family only stayed with her in the Bulwell suburb for around a fortnight before they suddenly 'just disappeared'.

Tributes were left outside their home after their bodies were found

Someone who knew the woman told the Mail said she even visited Alphonsine at the council house in Radford, Nottingham, where the two bodies were found on Tuesday, after police forced entry when 'concerns were raised' about the wellbeing of the pair

Nottinghamshire Police said the bodies lay 'undiscovered for quite some time' but do not believe the deaths were suspicious

Someone who knew the woman told the Mail said she even visited Alphonsine at the council house in Radford, Nottingham, where the two bodies were found on Tuesday, after police forced entry when 'concerns were raised' about the wellbeing of the pair.

Nottinghamshire Police said the bodies lay 'undiscovered for quite some time' but do not believe the deaths were suspicious.

The 'shocked' friend said: 'I think she was struggling with the cost of living. She last texted me asking for £100. Sometimes I could help her and transfer money but sometimes I couldn't.'

She said that when she last saw the family at the property in 2022, Alphonsine was living there with both of her daughters.

But the source said that looking after the disabled younger child was a 'weight' on Alphonsine, because 'it meant she couldn't work'.

She added: 'I know she struggled (for money).'

She told how her husband found the mother and daughters stranded outside Nottingham railway station as he headed for a night shift.

'They told him the person that was supposed to collect them hadn't turned up', the woman said.

'Alphonsine told me that her husband was violent, and somebody they knew in France had suggested that Nottingham would be a safe place for her to flee to with the children. Alphonsine said that if she went to France, it was too close to Italy and the husband might find them.

'She had come to Nottingham with the girls to see if it was safe for them. They were aged around three or four years apart. They all went back to Italy before returning to Nottingham with their belongings, and that was when Tatiane found them outside the shopping centre, completely by chance.'

Detective Chief Inspector Ruby Burrow said: 'This is a tragic case and we are currently working to understand exactly how and when these people died'

A spokesman for Nottingham City Council said: 'We were deeply saddened to hear the news and our thoughts are with the friends, family and neighbours of the two residents at this time'

The source said that after leaving Tatiane's house, Alphonsine and her daughters rented a run-down property, 'but they had to leave because it was leaking'.

They were put up by the council in a budget hotel, before in 2019, the authority eventually found them the property in Radford where the bodies were discovered.

Deborah Williams, 48, a neighbour in Radford, said social services had visited her home on a number of occasions in recent months because they were unable to get hold of Alphonsine, who is originally from the coastal city of Doula in Cameroon.

Ms Williams added: 'The social workers would ask if I had seen them recently. But I would only really notice them when they left the house to go out shopping.

'I never heard the girl speak. I don't know how severe her disability was, but I think she was non-verbal.

'It is very sad. I think social services have probably finally triggered the police to break in.'

Mrs Williams believes she last saw the pair in February but thought little of it, because they often went away for 'months at a time'.

Two bouquets of flowers have been tied to the railings outside Alphonsine's end-of-terrace home. A message on one of the floral tributes reads: 'It's so sad and heartbreaking to hear what has happened at this house. Two beautiful lives have been lost.

'A mother and daughter. RIP.'

Detective Chief Inspector Ruby Burrow said: 'This is a tragic case and we are currently working to understand exactly how and when these people died.

'We have enlisted the help of a forensic pathologist and will be in a better position to determine what has happened once they conclude their report.'

A spokesman for Nottingham City Council said: 'We were deeply saddened to hear the news and our thoughts are with the friends, family and neighbours of the two residents at this time. We are currently liaising closely with the police to understand the circumstances around this tragic incident.'