Girl, 8, and woman die i n house blaze

AN EIGHT-year-old girl and a woman aged 33 died in a house fire yesterday.

A boy aged five and a man, 34, were taken to hospital with serious injuries and are fighting for their lives. A 53-year-old woman escaped the blaze unhurt. All five are believed to belong to one family.

Emergency services were called to the fire in Collingham, Nottinghamshire, just after 7am.

Chief Inspector Rich Stapleford, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: ‘This morning our fire and rescue colleagues were able to remove five people from a property affected by fire. Ambulance crews were on scene and provided emergency care.

‘Despite their best efforts, it is with sadness that I confirm a girl aged eight and a woman aged 33 have died following the incident.

‘A five-year-old boy and a 34-year-old man remain in hospital with serious injuries. A 53-year-old woman was led to safety. It is believed that all five people were members of the same family.

‘Collingham is a very close-knit community and this includes some of the fire crews who responded. I know this news will hit the village very hard indeed.

‘I speak on behalf of all the emergency services when I say our thoughts are with the victims, their families, friends and the community of Collingham.’ A joint police and fire service investigation is under way to find the cause of the blaze.