'Generator fumes' probe after three found dead in container

Police are investigating whether a generator was involved in the "unexplained" deaths of three building workers whose bodies were found in a container today.

The young men, who were employees at the site where they were found, were discovered dead this morning.

The men are thought to have been in the container, believed to be a storage unit, voluntarily.

Ambulance crews were called to the building site in Whitley, Reading, Berkshire, at around 8am after a man reported the discovery.

Thames Valley Police said officers believe that the men were in the container voluntarily and added that one line of inquiry involved a generator found with them.

A force spokesman said: "We are at the scene but we are currently treating the deaths as unexplained."

A spokesman for South Central Ambulance Service said the generator could have produced fumes which could have poisoned the men.

He said: "The men were all in their late 20s and early 30s and are believed to be workers at the site.

"Sadly our paramedic team could only confirm that the three men were deceased once they arrived on the scene. The exact causes of death remain unexplained and Thames Valley Police are investigating."

A spokeswoman for the Health and Safety Executive confirmed that they had also been called in.

She said: "Obviously the HSE is concerned with the safety of employees at work but at this early stage I can only say that we are looking at the scene with police."