Two dead women found in London hotel

British police said today they had evacuated a London hotel after the bodies of two women were found inside in what firefighters said was a "chemical incident".

Officers were called to the Costello Palace Hotel in the Finsbury area of north London this morning after the two bodies were discovered.

"The bodies remain at the scene. We await confirmation regarding the cause of death," a police spokesman said.

Firefighters were also called to the hotel and were treating it as a "chemical incident".

Police said the building had been cleared.

A police source said it was believed the incident was a possible suicide involving a noxious substance and there was not thought to be any wider risk to the public.