Plumstead house fire: Two women die and five escape

Two women died and five other people escaped a house fire in south-east London overnight.

The fire broke out at the family home at the property in Purrett Road, Plumstead in the early hours.

The three women and two men who escaped the blaze needed hospital treatment, London Fire Brigade said.

The ground and first floors of the house were severely damaged and half of the roof was destroyed in the blaze. The cause of the fire is not yet known.

The BBC's Marc Ashdown at the scene said the fire had occurred in a three-bedroom semi-detached house.

He said: "A large fire had taken hold of the property, what's believed to be a family home where five people lived, two parents and their children.

"We understand that the father and two children escaped, the mother and one of the daughters became trapped inside and died. Two other women also escaped."

The Metropolitan Police said: "At this early stage the fire is not believed to be suspicious and inquiries continue by officers from Greenwich CID and London Fire Brigade."