In what will come across as a really shocking development, a woman has shot her own daughters dead while they were sleeping in their home.

Sarah Nicole Henderson, a 29-year-old mother has been charged with the murder of her two "angel" daughters who were shot dead as they slept in the family home in Texas.

According to a report by The Sun UK, the young woman was arrested in the early hours of Thursday after cops found the bodies of KayLee, seven, and five-year-old Kenlie.

Officers had been to the house just hours before the shooting after Sarah's husband, the girls' stepdad, called to say she was suicidal.

She had also reportedly said people were "after her".

But the couple told officers everything was fine and they left at 11.30pm on Wednesday.

Sheriff Botie Hillhouse said: “No one was in any danger. No one was suicidal, no signs of violence, no signs of anything.”

Three hours later the husband called 911 to say Sarah had walked into the living room where her daughters were sleeping and shot them.

Deputies returned to the scene and found the two girls dead in Payne Springs, 60 miles south-east of Dallas.

Sarah was arrested and charged with capital murder.

The sheriff said: "The only thing she told us was that she had smoked some marijuana early in the evening.

"She was very blunt. We just don’t have any answers as to why.”

The double murder shocked neighbours, who la!d stuffed toys and said prayers outside the house.

Jackie Nelms said: “I just asked God to cuddle them and love them, and put his hands around them up there,”

Jaylyne Palmer said: “Those little girls were so adorable. They would draw pictures for us and put them in the mailbox for us.

“We had chills all over when we heard about it.”

A Gofundme page has been set up by one of Sarah's friends to pay for the funeral.

Jacklyn Caidenhead, who said she grew up with the mother and was close to both children, said: "Heaven gained two beautiful babies today."

"These little girls always put light in my life, always happy, smiles from ear to ear, and big warm hugs that lasted a minute long."

Rob Schilling said: "I will pray for these angels. I cannot believe such evil would befall them from the woman they trusted the most.

"What kind of mother does this. RIP the Good Lord has you now."