The police watchdog has said it will investigate whether officers missed opportunities to intervene before Bronson Battersby, two, and his father, Kenneth, 60, were found dead at a flat in Skegness, Lincolnshire. Bronson was found curled up next to the body of his father, who had died at the flat they shared. A social worker contacted Lincolnshire police on two separate occasions after there was no reply when she knocked on the door of Kenneth Battersby’s home. The Lincolnshire county council social worker communicated with Battersby on 27 December and arranged to visit him and his son on 2 January, but there was no response when she arrived at the door, the council confirmed. She “made inquiries at other addresses where the child could be” and contacted the police. A second unannounced visit on 4 January also went unanswered, and the social worker contacted the police again. The social worker was let into the property by the landlord on 9 January, where the man and his son were found dead. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) confirmed on Thursday that Lincolnshire police’s actions before the bodies were found would be the subject of an investigation. The IOPC regional director for the Midlands, Derrick Campbell, said: “The harrowing circumstances in which Kenneth and Bronson Battersby died are truly shocking. Our sympathies go out to everyone affected by their sad deaths. “It is appropriate we carry out an independent investigation to consider the police response to any prior welfare concerns that were raised. We will be examining whether there were any missed opportunities by police to check on Mr Battersby and Bronson sooner. “We will be in contact with Bronson’s mother and Mr Battersby’s family in due course to explain our role and how our investigation will progress.” Lincolnshire county council has also launched a review into the death of the toddler, who was classed as vulnerable and subject to checks at least once a month by children’s services. The boy’s mother, Sarah Piesse, told the Sun that the results of the postmortem examination found that Bronson died of dehydration and starvation. Her ex-partner is thought to have died of a heart attack no earlier than 29 December. Bronson was last seen alive when he waved at a neighbour who called to see him and his father on Boxing Day, the Sun reported. Kenneth Battersby was unemployed and had a heart condition that had caused him to become severely jaundiced in the months leading up to his death.