Bodies found in UK blaze

The bodies of two people, thought to be a mother and child, have been found in a house in the UK destroyed by a massive fire, emergency services said yesterday.

The blaze broke out in the early hours of Sunday but the bodies were only found yesterday afternoon.

Rescue efforts were hampered by the collapse of floors and ceilings at the property in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire.

Crews from Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue had rescued one woman from a bedroom window using a ladder and were searching the multi-occupancy house when conditions became too dangerous for them to continue.

One fire-fighter was trying to reach the room in which the bodies were found when the floor collapsed and he fell to the level below. He was taken to hospital with arm and shoulder injuries but has since been released.

His colleagues extended a ladder to the bedroom window in an attempt to reach the two people from outside, but they were beaten back by flames and extreme heat.

Assistant chief fire officer Des Williamson said: “Fire-fighters searched in the most difficult conditions imaginable.

“We couldn’t have done any more because of the intensity of the fire and the structural collapse within the building.”

The cause of the fire is still being investigated. Thames Valley Police are treating the incident as unexplained.

The bodies of the pair, who have not yet been identified, will be removed from the property later.