Toddler and baby die in house fire as mother is left fighting for life

POLICE launched a murder investigation yesterday after a baby and toddler died and a woman was left in a critical condition following a flat fire.

emergency services were called to reports of a blaze in the first-floor property at Clifton, Nottingham, in the early hours.

Paramedics fought to resuscitate the woman, thought to be the mother of the children, and one of her children as neighbours were evacuated. The blaze was extinguished at around 4am yesterday.

It was later confirmed that a one- year- old baby and another child, aged three, had died in hospital.

The woman, thought to be in her 30s, remained in a critical condition last night.

one resident, who lives along the street said: ‘My friend was evacuated and saw them brought out of the house.

‘ The mother and one of the children were laid down outside and they were resuscitating them.

‘It was an upsetting sight for my friend and she’s devastated by the outcome. We all are – it’s so sad.’ The resident added: ‘The mother only moved into the flat with her children a couple of months ago. I hadn’t seen a man living there.

‘But I think it’s a council flat and if that is the case I don’t know why the three of them were housed there as it’s only a one-bedroom property.’

Another neighbour said he watched firefighters bring out the two children.

‘They carried them just over the road and were working on them for ages doing CPR, it must have been a good 30 minutes. But obviously it was too late. It’s a tragedy. We didn’t see them bring the woman out. I just really know her to say hello to, but she seems nice.

‘They say she is critical in hospital. But if it is the mum of the children involved, she isn’t going to want to wake up to that news. How do you go on?’

Detective Chief Inspector Greg McGill, who is leading the investigation, said: ‘These are tragic and very sad circumstances. Following a joint investigation with Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service we have established that the fire was started deliberately.

‘We are appealing for witnesses who were in the area at that time and saw something suspicious to come forward and help with the investigation.’

Inspector Ben Lawrence, of Nottinghamshire Police, said members of the local community should expect to see a large number of officers in the area while inquiries continue.

A spokesman for Nottingham City Homes, an arms-length management organisation of Nottingham City Council, confirmed the blaze address was a council property.

NCH manages the 27,000 homes owned by the council and provides accommodation for affordable and social rent, for families moving out of Women’s Aid refuges and for families in housing crisis.

David Mellen, leader of the Labour-run city council, said: We’ll do all we can to support the family and community at this deeply upsetting time.’

‘It was started deliberately’