TWO young children have died in a “suspicious” house fire, police said today.

Derbyshire Police and the county’s fire and rescue service were called to Edale Way in Buxton just after 11.45pm last night.

A police spokesman said a woman and a child escaped from a first floor window, but two young children were confirmed as having died in the fire.

He said a joint police and fire service investigation had been launched and the fire was being treated as suspicious.

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Cotterill said: “My thoughts at this time are with the victims of the tragedy and their families.

“Our investigation into the cause of this fire will continue together with the Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service to determine how it started.’’