Police have found what appears to be a body at the scene of a house fire in South Otago this morning.

Emergency services were called to the house in Milton shortly before 4am.

Police said a scene and fire examination was continuing and a cordon remained in place around the address.

“Police will be unable to release the name of the person until a formal identification is completed and the persons family have been advised,” they said in a statement.

However, it is believed the deceased was a Milton man, aged in his late 50s, who lived at the property.

The cause of the fire is still unknown.

The Fire Service said the house was well alight when crews arrived, but had since been put out.

Two crews from Milton were sent, along with two from Balclutha.