FORENSIC experts are continuing their investigations today at the scene of a house fire that claimed the life of a mother and her daughter.

Theresa and Emily Dunn were killed at the two-storey property in Quern Road, Deal, early yesterday morning. Their next of kin have been informed.

A police spokesman said the bodies had not yet been formally identified. The mother is thought to have been in her 40s and her child is believed to have been aged 10 or 11.

The police spokesman added: "The fire could possibly have been caused by an electrical source."

Firefighters and police were called to the house shortly before 6am on Thursday, along with a crew from the South East Coast Ambulance Service.

A neighbouring property was evacuated and the road was closed to traffic.

A press conference outside the burnt-out house revealed that the blaze probably started in the lounge downstairs.

The two bodies were discovered upstairs in the semi-detached house by firefighters wearing breathing apparatus.

Det Insp Steve Bridges, from Dover Police Station, said two members of the public travelling home from work at 5.45am raised the alarm when they saw smoke coming from the building.

Deal firefighters put out the blaze and found the bodies of the mother and daughter during a search of the house.

Det Insp Bridges stressed: "The firefighters have asked us to express condolences to the family and friends of the people who died."

A full investigation is continuing into the fire and the possible causes of death, although police have said there was no indication of any suspicious circumstances.