Woman Dies in Suspicious House Fire

Police are today continuing investigate the death of a woman during a suspicious house fire.

Emergency services were called to the blaze in Moor Lane, Maidenhead, Berkshire, in the early hours of yesterday morning.

The body of the woman, in her 20s, was discovered at the house. The victim has yet to be formally identified but detectives said she is thought to have been visiting the address.

Formal identification is expected to take several days. The woman's family has been informed. A post-mortem examination is expected to take place at the weekend.

A number of people escaped from the property during the incident.

Thames Valley Police detectives are working with the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service to establish the cause of the fire.

Detective Superintendent Karen Trego, who is leading the investigation, said: "The fire caused extensive damage to the house and has made it unstable. Until the property has been stabilised and we are able to carry out a forensic examination inside, it would be inappropriate to speculate on the cause of the fire and whether it was started maliciously. However, I can confirm that we are treating the incident as suspicious and are appealing for anyone with any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward as soon as possible."

One man was taken to hospital with leg injuries believed to have been sustained during his escape from the blaze.

A woman received hospital treatment for injuries associated with smoke inhalation.