Woman and child die in fire

Neighbours heard glass breaking under the heat of the fire

A woman and a three-year-old girl have died, and two men have been injured, in a house fire in York.

Fire crews were called to the house in Kingsway West, Acomb just before 0300 BST on Saturday.

They found that the woman was already dead inside the house.

The girl died while being taken to hospital.

Serious injuries

Two men who were also in the house were injured when they were forced to jump from a first floor window.

One is being treated for serious injuries in Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield.

The other is receiving treatment for smoke inhalation at York District Hospital.

Paramedics also had to treat three other people living next door, including a four-week-old baby.

Police are withholding the names of the victims until relatives have been informed.

Investigations into the cause of the fire are continuing but a police spokesman said there appear to be no suspicious circumstances.

Fire officers have found the remains of a smoke detector in the house but it seems that it was not fitted with batteries.