He added: “Our local neighbourhood policing team will be on hand to provide support – we know this is a difficult time and we are doing all we can to minimise the impact on the community while we conduct inquiries in the area.”

It comes as the Swanage community have rallied together to help evacuated care home residents who have been taken to nearby All Saints Church.

A local bakery, The Italian Bakery donated several boxes of pastries to comfort the evacuated care home residents.

The boss of the care home even had bags of fish and chips from local restaurant Harlees to cheer up helpers and the elderly residents.

The residents of Gainsborough Care Home, who had been sheltering inside All Saint’s Church, are being moved to more suitable accommodation, Revd Jo Levasier has told the PA news agency.

Around 40 people had been sheltering inside the church on Redcliffe Road in Swanage, Dorset, after being evacuated from the care home following a suspected carbon monoxide leak.

Three people were found dead and four were taken to hospital following the incident on Wednesday morning.

People carrying stretchers and wheelchairs have been seen entering the church to move residents to alternative accommodation.