The mother and daughter team who provided the costumes for the film Titanic have been found murdered at their homes in Virginia. The daughter's estranged husband has been arrested.

Suzanne Arena, 79, and her daughter, Susan Varner, 50, were both found apparently bludgeoned to death in their respective homes in Cumberland county and Prince Edward county.

Police later arrested Reginald Varner, 53, after his car was stopped for speeding. A police officer noted that Mr Varner was covered in blood and had an axe in the car beside him. He was divorced from Susan in 1998 after 20 years of marriage. Mr Varner was held without bail and will appear in court on Monday.

The mother and daughter team supplied the black-beaded dress that Kate Winslet wore in the film. Titanic won an Oscar in 1998 for best costumes. The pair also supplied costumes to the country music stars Johnny Cash and his wife June Carter.