Man dies and family hurt in fire

Flames were seen shooting from the house

A 41-year-old man has died and his wife and two children have been seriously injured in a suspicious fire at their home in Lancashire.

Flames were seen shooting out of the front door of the house in London Road, Blackburn, when fire crews arrived in the early hours.

The man died shortly after being pulled from the fire. His wife, 39, is in a "critical" condition.

The couple's children, a boy aged nine and a girl, 14, were seriously injured.

Smashed front door

The children were initially taken to the Royal Blackburn Hospital but have since been transferred to a hospital in Manchester.

A spokesman for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said the fire was of suspicious origin.

"On arrival, the firefighters saw flames shooting out the front door and the vestibule," he said.

Three fire engines attended the incident at 0130 BST.

Investigators spent the day at the scene on London Road

One crew broke through the back door of the house, another smashed through the front door and pulled the couple and their children from upstairs rooms.

Lancashire Police are also involved in the investigation into the cause of the fire.

Officers and fire investigators spent the day at the scene carrying our forensic examinations.

Det Ch Insp Mark Rothwell said: "I must stress that at this stage the fire is being treated as unexplained although we cannot rule out arson.

"Understandably, this is an incredibly difficult time for the family and we have specially trained officers with them.

"We are also working with the local community and I would ask that if anybody has any information that might be useful, to contact us."

Although the man has not been formally identified hundreds of members of the community have visited the house to pay their respects.

Family friend Musa Ismail Haldarvi told the BBC: "He was a very kind and very lovely gentleman.

"We have lost our best mate in this community. And the community will never forget him."

Prayers were being held at the local mosque on Wednesday evening for the man's wife and children.