Two adults and a child have been found dead after a fire appeared to have burned undetected overnight in rural farmland.

Surrey Police says officers were called to an address in Trumpet Hill Road in Reigate yesterday morning following "concerns for the safety of occupants at the location".

The spokesman added: "Officers arrived at the location at around 11.10am. A property was found to have suffered serious fire damage and three people, including two adults and a child, were found deceased. Their next of kin has been informed."

Both Surrey Police and Surrey Fire and Rescue Service are investigating the cause.

A spokesman told The Independent that the force's press office did not have information on when the fire is believed to have taken place and on who reported the fire.

She said: "That will be part of the investigation to determine all of that."

The bodies have not yet been formally identified. The property, which also sits near the foot of the North Downs and Box Hill, is believed to be a farm cottage.

The Surrey Mirror yesterday reported that the roof of the house was destroyed but that its walls were still standing. There was no mention of any fatalities.

Resident Christine Beard said: “The houses are few and far between here so we weren't aware of anything. The police have been round but I don't think they know how the fire started or what time it started.