Chesterfield: Man and woman die in early hours house fire

Firefighters arrived at the scene in the early hours of Sunday

Two people have died following a fire at a house in Derbyshire in the early hours.

Emergency services were called to reports of a blaze at a three-storey terraced house in Staunton Close, Chesterfield, at 02:44 BST on Sunday.

A 65-year-old woman and a 31-year-old man were pronounced dead at the scene.

Another woman was able to escape from the property before emergency services arrived, said Derbyshire Police.

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service said it was alerted to the blaze following a 999 call from a neighbour who could hear a smoke alarm sounding.

Fire crews from Chesterfield, Clay Cross, Staveley, and Dronfield fire stations were deployed to the scene.

The roof of the house was badly damaged by the fire

An investigation into the cause of the fire has been launched but it has not yet been established how it started.

Nathan Stevens, of Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "Early this morning fire crews attended a house fire where sadly two people have lost their lives.

"On arrival at the scene, firefighters rapidly deployed into the property to search and locate the occupants, while other crews tackled the fire from outside.

"The thoughts of everyone at Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service are with the deceased, their family and friends at this distressing time."

Neighbouring properties were evacuated as a safety precaution following the fire and residents have been staying with family and friends since.