An elderly couple died during the early hours of Christmas morning in a fire at their home in Illescas that started at around 4.15am.

The 75 year old man and his 80 year old wife were found on the first floor of their chalet on the Señorío residential estate.

Local mayor, José Manuel Tofiño, said that it is suspected that a Christmas candle may have been the cause of the fire.

No other properties were damaged although the chalet next door was evacuated as a precautionary measure.