TWO people were found dead inside a house after a fire.

The circumstances around the deaths are unclear, but police were called to a house in North Ormesby, Middlesbrough, on Wednesday when a nearby neighbour raised the alarm after noticing that the windows in the house were blackened.

Reports also emerged of a smell of smoke which led firefighters to be called.

A crew broke into the property, where they found the two bodies.

The fire brigade said there had been a fire which started in the kitchen, but this had burnt out before crews arrived.

The neighbour who reported her concerns to police said she heard a smoke alarm going off three nights ago, but could not see anything when she looked out of her window.

She said: “They must have left something cooking and fell asleep or something and they have got smoke inhalation, otherwise the whole house would have been on fire. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone.”

The deceased are believed to have lived in the street for about a year.

The neighbour said: “I passed the house on Tuesday and saw the windows were all black on the inside – I thought they had been painted.

“The blinds were black too.

“I realised that I hadn’t seen them for a few days. It played on my mind all night and I had another look today. No one had seen them, so I reported it.

“As soon as the firemen battered the door down you could smell it, the whole street smelt of smoke.”

A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said: “Sadly the bodies of two people were then discovered inside the address.

“Officers are undertaking inquiries, and are providing a reassuring presence to the local community.”

No further details have been released as police said inquiries were at ‘a very early stage’.

The road between Hovingham Street and Wake Street was closed.

The North East Ambulance Service said it had also attended the incident, shortly before 5pm and treated a person for smoke inhalation at the scene.

A joint fire and police investigation into the fire is underway.

  • Anyone with information is asked to contact Cleveland Police on 101 quoting event number 29759.