Detectives today thanked members of the public for their “invaluable” support in the hunt for the killers of two Wolverhampton pensioners.

But, as three men were appearing in court charged with the murders of grandparents Guiseppe and Caterina Massaro, they insisted there was “still a lot of work to be done”.

The men — Lieneusz Bartnowski, of no fixed address, Wojciech Ostolski,  and Macaej Kus, both of Chervil Rise — were today appearing at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court after being charged yesterday with the double murder.

The Massaros were stabbed with a knife and hit with a hammer in what officers describe as a “sustained and brutal attack” in the bedroom of their ransacked home in Woden Road, Heath Town, last Thursday night.

Ostolski, aged 32, and Kus, 30, both of Chervil Rise, Heath Town and 21-year-old Bartnowski, who formerly lived in the same road as the dead couple, have been charged with two murders and aggravated burglary.

Supt Mark Payne, from Wolverhampton Police, said today: “The public’s help has been invaluable during this investigation so far.

“I would like to thank them on behalf of the investigation team.

“There is still a lot of work to be done and we would still ask anyone who has information who has not come forward yet to speak to us.”

The couple’s 23-year-old granddaughter Lindsey Booth found the bodies of Guiseppe, an 80-year-old former GKN worker, and his 77-year-old wife in their bedroom on Friday night.

A post-mortem revealed defensive injuries on Mr Massaro, indicating he had put up a struggle.

The three accused Polish men are expected to have their case adjourned today.