A 'suspicious' house fire in Harlow Essex has now claimed the lives of three children and one adult.

Two boys aged 13 and six, a girl aged 11 and the woman, believed to be the children's mother, were declared dead at the scene. Two children, a girl aged three, and a boy aged nine, were taken to the Princess Alexandra Hospital with serious burns. Police confirmed that it is one of the two children who have died this morning of their injuries but no names have been released yet.

A man was also taken to the hospital suffering from minor burns.

Neighbours described seeing the small terraced house in Barmead, covered in ferocious flames and hearing cries of help. Fire fighters wearing breathing equipment battled "punishing" conditions inside before pulling out six people, David Johnson, from the fire service, told Sky News.

Senior investigating Officer Detective Superintendent Rob Vinson said the investigation "was still in its early stages although they are treating the fire as suspicious he then added " "At this time we are investigating to see whether this fire was started deliberately and need anyone with information in the Harlow area to contact us,"

Written and Presented by Ann Salter