The BBC's Stephen Cape: "Local people were absolutely horrified"

The man is charged with murdering Kathleen Day, 75, Sandra Day, 50, and Lee Day, 22, three-year-old twins Maddison and Rhiannon Himphen-Day, two-year-old Reece Himphen, and 16-year-old Yvonne Culverhouse in a fire at 15 Bellamy Road, Chingford, London earlier this month.

The victims of the fire were officially named by police for the first time following the hearing at Stratford magistrates' court in east London.

A post-mortem examination revealed all seven victims died from smoke inhalation.

A garden of remembrance may replace the house

The accused man cannot be named after deputy stipendiary magistrate Hugh Vickers ruled it was "not in the interests of justice or public order" to identify him publicly.

He also faces an eighth charge, of attempting to murder 50-year-old Brian Day who managed to escape the fire by clambering down a ladder put up to a first-floor bedroom window by neighbours who rushed to help.

The man was remanded until Friday 26 March.