Kaeren Adkins and her six-year-old daughter, Torie, were named as two of the victims.

A man's body was found in a garden nearby.

Ms Adkins, who was in her late 30s, was said to have moved into the village only a few months ago.

It is a very close knit community where everyone knows each other and this will come as a real blow

Nina Jerez, Horton postmistress

Officers were called to Horton, near Ilminster, at 1815 BST on Tuesday after neighbours heard shots being fired in Broadoak, a side road off Goose Lane.

They found the three bodies and a rifle.

Police have said they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the shootings.

Post-mortem examinations are expected to be carried out on Wednesday at Southmead Hospital in Bristol.

Counsellors at school

The six-year-old's headteacher said the girl had been at the school for two weeks but had settled in.

Bill Grace, head of Nerosch County Primary School, said: "We have counsellors in school and they will remain in the school for as long as is necessary.

"This is a terrible tragedy."

Village shocked

Nina Jerez, postmistress at Horton Post Office, Goose Lane said: "It is unbelievable.

"It is a very close knit community where everyone knows each other and this will come as a real blow."

She described Ms Adkins as a "nice friendly lady who was getting her life back on track".

'Relationships important'

Detective Chief Inspector Trevor Margenout, from Avon and Somerset Police, said a number of children in the village may have been traumatised by the shootings.

He said: "They will have been affected by this and may have seen the incident unfold or the aftermath."

He refused to say whether the man found dead, who was aged in his 50s, was Ms Adkins' former husband or boyfriend.

He said: "Clearly the relationship between the parties involved will be key to this investigation and will lead us to understand why and how this has taken place."