Two held after fatal arson attack

Richard Perkins was found dead in the bedroom of the house

A 37-year-old man has died in an arson attack on his house from which his wife and three children managed to escape.

Fire crews found Richard Perkins dead in a bedroom of the terraced home on the Pound Bank estate, Malvern, at about 0130 BST.

His family, who fled by breaking windows, suffered smoke inhalation. The "severe and intense" fire was tackled by 30 firefighters for an hour.

A man and a youth have been arrested in connection with the blaze.

'Wife screaming'

Neighbours said they were woken in the early hours by the screams of the family inside the house.

Mandy Harris, who lives next door, said: "I ran outside into the street, rang the fire brigade and (Mr Perkins' wife) was actually screaming through the window at this time.

"A friend of mine ran round the back with the hosepipe and tried to put the porch out.

"I was scared to death to be honest. I was shaking like a leaf, I thought they were all going to die to be honest."

Crews from Worcester, Malvern and Upton-upon-Severn went to the scene

James Loveridge said his brother-in-law Mr Perkins "wouldn't hurt a fly".

"He wouldn't hurt anything or hurt anybody.

"He was one of those people who just sailed through life, tried to make the best of everything he had."

Fire crews said the fire was so severe that flames were coming through the windows and there was a risk that the blaze would spread to the neighbouring terraced houses.

Crews from Worcester, Malvern and Upton-upon-Severn went to the scene.

Kevin Taylor, who lives nearby, said: "You could hear the crackling, obviously from the house being burnt.

Witness appeal

"The fire brigade was on the scene all night, they never left, just in case it started up again."

Det Supt Andy Rowsell, of West Mercia Police, said: "We are in the early stages of this major investigation and we would like to hear from anyone who has information which they think may be useful to the inquiry.

"We are urging anyone who was in the area of The Glade between 9.30pm last night and 2am today to get in touch as soon as possible."

Anyone with information can contact police direct or anonymously via Crimestoppers.

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Four other people escaped from the house