COTTAGE INFERNO KILLS DAD & KIDS

Family slept in farmhouse as fire raged

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A SINGLE dad and at least four of his children were feared dead last night after fire ripped through their home as they slept.

Three children, aged 13, 12, and 10, were able to escape the burning farmhouse – but police said others were still missing.

The family is believed to have been renting the large village home for several years.

The father – who was named locally as builder Dave Cuthbertson, 68 – is said to have lived in the cottage with his seven children after his wife suffered a stroke and moved away.

Villager Ron Birchall, 68, said: “We are close neighbours and Dave would always acknowledge us. I knew him as a good father and a gentle fellow. My wife would say he was an exceptional father.

“All the other villagers are upset by this because Dave has been here for about 15 years. It really is very sad.”

Firemen, police and scientists yesterday spent eight hours searching through the gutted remains for bodies.

The severity of the blaze means police are as yet unable to confirm how many people were killed in the tragedy in Llangammarch Wells, Powys.

Community councillor Tim Van-Rees said: “It is truly an appalling tragedy. I have spoken to the owner of the property – he was alerted by one of the children who came to his house in the early hours of the morning.

“He called the fire service who went to the house straight away but unfortunately not everybody could be saved.”