TWO people died and two others were injured when a fire ripped through two Birmingham properties.

The dead are believed to be male but the bodies were so badly burned that they have not yet been identified.

The first body was found by firefighters as they battled against flames which ravaged the houses in Moseley Road, Highgate, early yesterday morning. A second body was discovered at 4pm.

Locals said they believed the boarded-up properties, part of a disused care home, had been occupied by squatters.

Up to 40 firefighters were called to contain the blaze which started at about 4am and caused the roofs to cave in.

A 23-year-old man was rescued from one of the burning buildings and taken to hospital for minor burns.