A woman has been charged with murder following the deaths of her two children in Margate.

Samantha Ford, 37, was arrested yesterday in connection with the deaths of 23-month-old twins Jake and Chloe.

Police discovered the toddlers at their end-of-terrace home in Castle Drive, Margate, at 3.35am.

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They were both taken to hospital, where they were declared dead by doctors.

Just 45 minutes before, a car was involved in a crash with a lorry on the A299 Thanet Way between Herne Bay and Whitstable.

Police attended the scene of the crash, in which Samantha Ford is said to have suffered a minor head injury.

After concerns were raised for the welfare of her children, officers rushed to the home in Castle Drive, but it was too late to save the toddlers.

A police spokesman said: "Samantha Ford, aged 37 and of Castle Drive, Margate, was arrested and on 28 December, following authorisation from the Crown Prosecution Service, was charged with two counts of murder.

"She has been remanded in custody to appear before Canterbury Magistrates’ Court on Saturday 29 December 2018."

Ford was initially taken to Ashford's William Harvey Hospital, before being discharged at about 2pm and taken into police custody.

Since her arrest, police officers have been stationed at the house, which sits on a new-build estate on the outskirts of Margate.

Neighbours say the family had only moved into the property about a month ago. It is believed they had been living in Charing prior to the move.

Forensics specialists have been seen going in and out of the house with evidence bags.

Cuddly toys and floral tributes were this afternoon placed outside the house.

A neighbour who wished to remain anonymous said: "It's atrocious, it is so sad.

"They were a really lovely couple.

"The houses have only been lived in for around six months, they moved here in the summer."

Just four days before the tragedy, Ford's husband, Steven Ford, shared a photo on Twitter of himself with daughter Chloe, captioned: "Snuggling with my fave girl #daughter #myworld #twins"