Police searching the fire-ravaged home of a millionaire businessman and his family have found two bodies in the burnt out building.

Specialist search teams began work on the sprawling country estate belonging to Christopher Foster yesterday, but were initially hampered by falling debris.

The 50-year-old, his wife Jillian, 49, and their 15-year-old daughter Kirstie have been missing since Tuesday's suspected arson attack at Osbaston House in Maesbrook in Shropshire.

Officers found the two bodies last night in the main part of the house, but West Mercia Police have not yet confirmed the identities of the remains.

Superintendant Gary Higgins said: “We can confirm that two bodies were recovered last night from the main part of Osbaston House, Maesbrook.

“The remains will be examined by a Home Office pathologist and post mortems are due to be carried out later today to establish the cause of death.”

Detailed forensic examinations of the scene have continued throughout the day and are likely to last for weeks to come.

“It is going to be a painstaking and lengthy process before the full examination of the house and its surrounds is completed,” said Supt Higgins.

“In the meantime, we will keep an open mind concerning what we may, or may not find.”

Police may have to use dental records and DNA to help identify the charred remains, and so far it has not been possible to determine the age of the two bodies or whether or not they are male or female.

"There are a range of techniques that will help us, " said Supt Higgins. “We must stress that the Foster family still remain unaccounted for."

Earlier this week police found three dead dogs and three dead horses in the gutted stable block and kennels within the grounds of the £1.2million Georgian property and police are now waiting for the results of post mortems.

It has also emerged that Kirstie, a student at the £16,500-a-year Ellesmere College in Shropshire, is believed to have been chatting to friends on the internet before she was disconnected around 1am - just a couple of hours before the fire took hold.

The Foster family had been at a friend’s barbecue on Bank Holiday Monday, but returned around 8.30pm.

Police are developing profiles for all three family members and 100 officers and support staff are working on the investigation.

Supt Higgins said “every possible scenario” in to how and why the fire started was being considered.

Mr Foster's company Ulva Limited, which supplied insulation to oil rigs, had gone in to liquidation earlier this year owing £800,000 in unpaid tax.

The company was also facing legal action from one of its suppliers and Mr Foster was described as “bereft of the basic instincts of commercial morality” by a High Court judge.

Terence Baines, a former director of Ulva Ltd, said: “He was just an ordinary everyday chap, well-dressed, a good businessman.”

A special church service will take place tomorrow in Maesbrook village church where the congregation will say prayers for the Fosters, their family and friends.

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