The sister of Shafilea Ahmed, whose decomposed remains were found in Cumbria in 2004, has told police she saw her parents suffocate Shafilea by forcing a bag into her mouth.

Iftikhar and Farzana Ahmed deny killing their 17-year-old daughter in the family home in September, 2003.

The murder was allegedly witnessed by Shafilea's younger sister Alesha, who did not speak about the alleged incident for seven years.

Andrew Edis QC told Chester Crown Court: "She (Alesha) describes what is an act of suffocation by both her parents acting together."

He said they put their hands over her face "to close her airways so she could not breathe."

Edis went on to say: "She looked out of the window and saw her father with a large object wrapped in bin bags. She assumed that was the body of her sister."

Iftikhar Ahmed, 52 and Farzana Ahmed, 49 allegedly murdered their "westernised" teenage daughter because they believed her conduct was bringing shame on the family.