Mum suspect in tragic house fire - NEWS.com.au

Tragic: Police guard the home in Derby where five children died in a house fire. Their mother is under arrest on suspicion of murder. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

BRITISH police have arrested a young mother on suspicion of murder after five children died in a house fire.

"Sadly I can now confirm that five children have died, and their ages range from five to 10 years," Assistant Chief Constable Steve Cotterill of Derbyshire Police told a news conference. The fire took place in the central English city of Derby.

"I can confirm that a woman in her late twenties has been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with this case," he added, although he stressed that detectives were keeping an open mind about the cause of the fire.

Assistant Chief Constable Cotterill said a sixth child, aged 13, and two adults were being treated in hospital, after emergency services were called to the semi-detached house early yesterday.

The children's father was named in media reports as Mick Philpott, a father of 17 who made headlines in 2007 after demanding that local authorities give him a larger house to share with his wife, girlfriend and eight of their children.

The father had made a "valiant attempt" to rescue the children, who had been sleeping on the first floor, Assistant Chief Constable Cotterill said.

Sean Frayne of Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service told the press conference that 30 firefighters had battled to put out the fire and rescue the children.

"The crews worked extremely hard in very difficult circumstances," he said.

"Personnel at the scene then continued to work very, very hard to save the lives of the five fatalities."