A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said: “The people who died were found on the second floor of the property.

“A post-mortem examination is expected to be carried out today,” she said. The work of investigators had been hampered by the dangerous state of the building, which had also delayed the recovery of the two teenagers’ bodies.

Meanwhile, witnesses have told of the panic and horror of those involved in the fire at Buckrose Court in Church Street.

Will Spowart, 24, who lives in a cottage only yards away, described how he watched the flames grow in intensity until the windows blew out and a large blue flame shot out of the upper storey.

“It was awful,” he said. “The place was just in flames.”

Steve Kinsella, landlord of the Railway Tavern pub, said a girl came into the street screaming.

He said: “All she had on was a T-shirt. She was shouting, ‘Fire, fire’, screaming at the top of her voice.”

Mr Kinsella said police asked him to open his pub and up to 20 evacuated people came inside to recover.

Stuart Simpson, North Yorkshire Fire Service’s group manager for Hambleton and Ryedale, said: “At 2.15am, a severe flat fire was reported. It was soon evident we had no access internally and we had to work very hard to get access.”

After finding a water source, crews were able to bring the flames under control.

He said: “It was then we discovered two bodies in a second floor flat.”

Superintendent Steve Tarn, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “In the early hours of Saturday morning we were called to a fire at Buckrose Court.

“Unfortunately, as a result of that fire, two people have died.

“Two males were also taken to York District Hospital suffering from smoke inhalation and minor burns, one has since been released.”

As news of the deaths spread throughout the racing world, periods of silence were held at Thirsk and Haydock on Saturday and at yesterday’s meeting at York.

Norton resident Tony Wragg, 60, paid tribute to Jamie Kyne: “He was the most dedicated jockey you could come across.

“A good hard-working lad, who could have gone all the way, has been killed.”


Witness appeal

RESIDENTS of Norton have been asked for help in piecing together the events surrounding the blaze.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said: “Officers are appealing for anyone who was in the area of Church Street, Commercial Street, Malton Swimming Pool or Buckrose Court between 1am and 2.30am on Saturday morning to contact police as they may have important information which could help the investigation. Phone police on 0845 6060247, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.