The boys have been named as five year old Taylor Jenkins and seven year old Lewis Jenkins.

The examination, which is being carried out with fire investigators from the East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service (ESFR), is likely to last several days and the cause of the fire remains unknown.

Sussex Police were called to the house in Milfoil Drive, Langney at 3.07pm yesterday by ESFR. The two boys, aged 5 and 7 were found dead inside the property.

Their mother was taken to Eastbourne District General Hospital and treated for minor injuries.

A team of detectives from the Sussex Police Major Crime Branch, led by DCI Trevor Bowles, are investigating the circumstances that led to the two boys' deaths.

Formal identification of the two boys and post mortems are yet to take place.

Chief Inspector Dick Coates, Eastbourne District Commander, said:

"This is a very tragic incident and my thoughts are with the boys' family and friends.

"At the present time it is not known how this fire started. This will take a number of days to establish, working in partnership with our colleagues from the ESFR. Initial indications do not suggest anything other than this being a tragic accident, but I have to keep an open mind on this until a full investigation of the scene can be conducted.

"I would like to reassure residents that this is a very rare occurrence. The loss of anyone's life is tragic enough, but for us to lose such young children from our community is a tragic blow."

John Drinkwater, ESFR Eastbourne Borough Commander, said:

"Our thoughts and sympathies are with the boys' families at this terrible time. ESFR will be in the local community in the coming week in order to offer reassurance to the local community and deliver advice to residents for keeping safe at home from the dangers of fire."