Two people have died in a shooting in a Norfolk village.

Norfolk Police said the body of a man was found in the front garden of a property in Magdalen, near King’s Lynn, and a woman’s body was discovered inside.

Both of the deceased are believed to be in their 40s, the force said. Greig Dunsmuir, who lives in the village, said he heard a “loud boom” on Stow Road shortly after midnight.

He added: “I heard a gunshot at about 12:20 and some commotion, people shouting and screaming. “It wasn’t drawn out – maybe three or four minutes of commotion, and that’s it. “I didn’t think any more of it until this morning.”

Det Supt Paul Durham said: “We are in the very early stages of the investigation and while I understand how shocking the news of this incident must be for neighbours of the two people involved, and other local residents, I can reassure them we are putting all our efforts into establishing the circumstances surrounding their deaths.”

A cordon has been set up around the scene while forensic examinations are carried out.

Paul Tibbs, a photographer from King’s Lynn, said the bungalow at the centre of the investigation was on a main road running through Magdalen and backs on the River Great Ouse. “People are being stopped at a police cordon,” he said. “People were waking up and seeing police in the road. They were coming out and asking what was going on. Obviously they’re not being told anything. “As news filters around the village, obviously there will be a definite sense of shock.”

The west Norfolk village of Magdalen lies to the west of the River Great Ouse, eight miles (12km) south of King’s Lynn. It is within the parish of Wiggenall St Mary Magdalen and has a population of just over 700 people. The village school, rated Good by Ofsted in 2013, takes pupils from the age of four to 11.  The parish church of Wiggenhall St Mary Magdalene houses a rare collection of medieval stained glass.