BLAZE CLAIMS MOTHER AND DAUGHTER

Theresa Dunn, believed to be in her 40s, and her 10-year-old daughter, Emily, perished in the fire at their rented semi-detached house in Quern Road, Deal, Kent, early on Thursday.

Initial inquiries suggest the fire was started by an electrical fault but claims that Christmas tree lights were to blame have been ruled out.

Mrs Dunn and her daughter were found upstairs by firefighters who were alerted by a passer-by who spotted smoke belching from the property just before 6am.

More than 20 firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze promptly but, despite efforts by passers-by to rouse Mrs Dunn and her daughter, they were pronounced dead at the scene. Their next of kin have been informed.

The blaze started in the lounge and quickly spread, resulting in the entire house being severely smoke and fire-damaged.

A neighbouring property had to be evacuated as flames threatened to spread.

Steve Griffiths, assistant director of Kent Fire and Rescue Service, said: "Investigations will continue for the next few weeks and then we will hopefully establish a full cause. Christmas is a time when there is a higher risk of injury and casualties."

Julie Glentworthy, whose parents live in the house next door, said Mrs Dunn's son would normally have been staying at the property but must have been elsewhere when the fire broke out. She said the family had been living there for about a year.

Forensic experts in white suits were working inside the building. It was unclear whether a working smoke alarm was fitted.