Derby fire: Five children die in blaze at house

A woman has been arrested on suspicion of murdering five children who died in a fire at a house in Derby.

The children, aged between five and 10, were asleep upstairs when the fire began at 03:45 BST, police said.

Their father, who was downstairs in the house in Victory Road, Allenton, made "valiant attempts" to save them.

A sixth child, aged 13, is in hospital with life threatening injuries. The woman, aged in her late 20s, was arrested elsewhere in the city.

Two adults also suffered minor injuries and were taken to the Royal Derby Hospital for treatment.

Temporary Assistant Chief Constable of Derbyshire Police, Steve Cotterill, said; "There appears to have been some valiant attempts by the father to resuscitate his children.

"The parents were asleep downstairs when the fire started," he added.

Neighbour Joe Peel said he was fast asleep when he was woken by his dog in the early hours.

He said: "I got up, I looked outside and it looked really foggy. I looked down the road and across the road one of the house's doors was just covered in flames.

"I grabbed my phone and started getting dressed as I was on the phone to the fire brigade. I ran out of the house, screaming to the neighbour to wake him up.

"I heard his voice, I couldn't hear anything else and I couldn't get in because it was just flames and smoke. A couple of minutes later the fire brigade came down with the police.

"Two or three minutes later you could see the flames going up the stairs through the side window of the house. When the fire brigade came it was billowing smoke going up the road - it was absolutely horrible".

ACC Cotterill added: "This going to be a very lengthy and detailed investigation. We are keeping an open mind."

Anyone with information about the fire has been asked to contact Derbyshire Police.