Three people ill after arson fire

Richard Perkins, who was 37, was killed in the fire

One person is critically ill in hospital and two others are in a serious condition following an arson attack in which a 37-year-old man died.

Fire crews found Richard Perkins dead in a bedroom of the terraced home in The Glade, on the Pound Bank estate, Malvern, in the early hours of Monday.

His wife and three children, who fled by breaking windows, suffered smoke inhalation.

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

Police said a male and two females - one of whom was in a critical condition - remained in hospital.

'Severe blaze'

The fire is being treated as arson and police have appealed for any witnesses or anyone who has information to come forward.

The "severe and intense" blaze was tackled by 30 firefighters for an hour, Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service said.

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

Fire crews said the blaze was so severe flames came through the windows and there was a risk it would spread to the neighbouring terraced houses.

Det Supt Andy Rowsell, of West Mercia Police, said detectives were in the early stages of a major investigation.

Officers want to hear from anyone in the area of The Glade between 2130 BST on Sunday night and 0200 BST on Monday.