A Dorset police spokesman said the deaths at the Gainsborough Care Home were being treated as “unexplained”.

“Four other people have been taken to hospital as a precaution and other residents of the address have been evacuated to a safe location as emergency services respond to the incident,” he added.

“At this time there is nothing to indicate any risk to the wider public.”

Police were unable to give any further details about the nature of the incident.

South Western Ambulance Service said earlier it had taken two patients to hospital.

“We sent a Hazardous Area Response Team, ten double-crewed ambulances & a significant number of additional resources,” it said on X.