A TRAGIC dad makes the bravest decision of his life tomorrow -- by moving back into the house where his young family were found battered to death. Ian Bates was "shattered forever" when wife Celeste, 31, son Milo, 17 months, and stepson Daniel, eight, were discovered dead by police in their home in Blackburn Road, Egerton. But tomorrow, in a remarkable tribute of love, the young dad will begin a bid to turn the four-bedroom house into "their shrine" by living there alone -- despite the horrific memories inside.

Today he told the BEN: "This is something I must do for them as well as myself. I have lost the family I love, but I know they would never forgive me if I lost the house we built as well. It's the only symbol of our togetherness I have left."

Police have now completed investigations at the property, next to the King William pub, after they found the three bodies in bedrooms on Wednesday, September 9.

Moves made by 35-year-old Mr Bates to help him cope will include asking a priest to "cleanse" the large, white-washed home he bought with his wife four years ago.

But much of the end-of-terrace, including his baby son's nursery room, still stacked with toys, will remain untouched, and the businessman also plans to sleep in the master bedroom where Celeste was found dead. Mr Bates, a philosophy graduate, explained: "By surrounding myself with good memories of them it helps me begin to cope. This is the place we built and the place where we achieved things as a family. I also know Celeste was a fighter who wouldn't want me to let go of all we stood for."

Mr Bates, who runs a business in Manchester selling CCTV, also revealed he first returned to the 10-room house the day after his family were buried at Christ Church, Walmsley.

He said: "I just didn't know how I'd feel, but when I stepped back inside it felt as if I had come home. I expected all three to run towards me again. My first feeling was one of rage that I had lost my family, but my next reaction was one of defiance that I didn't want to lose the house we shared as well.

"I have already spent two nights in the converted loft room and it's the only two decent sleeps I've had since they died."

Mr Bates, who split with Celeste in December last year, but believed they were on the verge of a reconciliation, has been trying to come to terms with the tragedy living in a rented flat near Edgworth village.

But he explained how he and Celeste, who wed in Gretna Green in 1995, had painstakingly renovated the rundown property in Egerton and scoured the country for antiques, furniture and fittings.

He said: "It was very much our home with our character stamped all over it. If I give that up I'll have nothing to remember them apart from a grave."

Mr Bates, a former paratrooper, fireman and McDonalds burger bar manager, admitted there would be times when his resolve to stay in the house would be severely tested. But he vowed to continue living at the property until it became too much to bear. He said: "I know when the wind and rain is lashing outside and I'm on my own looking out of the window there may come a time when I can't cope, but intend to do this for the sake of my wife and kids."

Mr Bates, who returned from a business trip to Colombia to be told of the three deaths, also asked people not to judge his decision. "As an outsider looking in I would probably think it was odd," he said. "But so few people have gone through what I have experienced it's impossible for anyone to understand. I also have the total support of Celeste's family so I don't really care what complete strangers will think."

Mr Bates also paid tribute to friends, family and work colleagues who have helped him try to come to terms with the tragedy. He said: "They've been magnificent."

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