A KILLER who attacked his grandmother and aunt in a Hampshire village must wait until next month for his sentence.

Christopher Francis, 25, denied murdering his two relatives at a house in Ropley but pleaded guilty to manslaughter with diminished responsibility.

Francis, of Dunsell's Lane, Ropley, appeared at Winchester Crown Court flanked by three nurses from Broadmoor high security mental hospital.

The attacks took place on December 12 last year and the victims were his grandmother, Elizabeth Francis, 84, and aunt, Teresa Francis, 54.

Nicholas Haggan, prosecuting, said the attack was of "very considerable ferocity" but no further details were given. He said Francis was suffering "some form of psychotic illness" and that the illness was present at the time of the incident.

Francis fled the scene but within hours had surrendered at Southampton central police station, where he told officers he had just killed two people, said Mr Haggan.

He was initially remanded to Winchester Prison but staff started becoming increasingly concerned for his deteriorating mental health and he was transferred to Broadmoor in January.

Francis had been due to plead at Winchester Crown Court in April this year but the secretary of state intervened to order him to be kept at Broadmoor under the Mental Health Act until it could be determined whether he was fit to plead.

The pleas before the judge, Mr Justice Steel, mean Francis will be transferred back to Broadmoor for further psychiatric testing.

Sentencing is now due to take place in late November although the final outcome has yet to be decided.

Doctors at Broadmoor believe Francis is suitable for detention at a medium secure mental unit such as Ravenswood House near Fareham.

The double killing stunned the close-knit village of Ropley where the Francis family is well-known and well-liked.

The former family doctor, Dr John Happel, said: "Everybody has felt very sorry for the family ever since it happened.

"This has been hanging over them for nearly a year and today must be a great relief to them and everyone who cares for the family and loves them."

Dr Happel, of Ropley, who recently retired as the family's doctor, added: "Christopher's parents still live here. They have been greatly helped by everyone rallying around. They have suffered a great deal.

"I knew Elizabeth Francis very well and her daughter Teresa who died with her and lived in a flat in Alresford. The whole thing stunned the village at the time."

Dr Happel said there was widespread sympathy for Christopher. "We are all very sorry for him and hope he will do well with the treatment he will receive."

The scene of the killing, Wykeham House in Petersfield Road, was placed on the market in the spring with an asking price of £675,000.