A family of seven including three children were tragically killed in a horror house fire in Thailand today.

The residents were sleeping on the second floor of their home when the blaze broke out in the early hours of the morning in Rayong province, 110 miles east of Bangkok.

The family screamed as they tried to flee downstairs but were blocked by the raging inferno that had already engulfed the ground floor. They huddled together before the flames closed in and burned them to death.

Shocked neighbours called firefighters at 2:30 am local time after hearing cries for help from inside the burning townhouse.

Footage showed locals desperately trying to put out the fire with a hose and basins of water as the bright orange blaze ripped through the property.

Officers later arrived and found that the blaze had spread across four townhouses. They spent 30 minutes to extinguish it.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Chaikrit Taorat of the Rayong City Police Station said: 'The fire destroyed the entire house. Seven people were found dead, some of whom had died in a huddle. Four adults and three children were found dead.'

Bodies were reportedly found lying on the second-floor doorway.

The deceased were identified as grandmother Ladda Polsiri, 57, her daughter Nan Polsiri, 29, son Sarawut Polsiri, 32, his wife Sararat Polsiri, 29, and their three children Face, aged two, Ikkyu, aged two, and Honey, aged one.

Anusorn Saengkla, Mueang Rayong district chief, said: 'We believe the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit. Inside the house, seven people, both adults and children, were trapped. They were sleeping on the second floor and tried to escape downstairs, but couldn't make it out.'

Three neighbours suffered smoke inhalation and were treated at Rayong Hospital.

Authorities said the exact cause of the fire was under investigation.

Fires in Thailand are commonly caused by aging electrical infrastructure, extensive use of wood in construction, and regional heatwaves that can exacerbate fire risks.

Rapid fire response can also be hampered in densely packed neighbourhoods where narrow streets can delay firefighting efforts.