Woman dies and five hurt in fire

The fire caused severe damage to the house

A 22-year-old woman died and five others were taken to hospital after a blaze at a house in Leicester.

Twenty firefighters tackled the blaze at the property on Heyford Road in Braunstone early on Tuesday morning.

A man, 78, is a serious condition and a woman, 60, a boy, 4, and a girl, 2, are stable at Leicester Royal Infirmary.

An eight-year-old girl has been transferred to Birmingham Children's Hospital and is also in a stable condition, police said.

Firefighters entered the property to rescue the six occupants, who were treated at the scene by paramedics.

Second tragedy

The 22-year-old woman was taken to hospital where she died from her injuries.

Leicestershire Police and fire officials have started an investigation into the cause of the fire.

Chief fire officer David Webb from Leicestershire Fire and Rescue said the fire caused extensive damage.

"There were people rescued from throughout the house, basically in different rooms in different locations.

"The fire itself is quite a severe fire, downstairs at the front of the property - but obviously in a property such as this it affects every room in the house."

Neighbours revealed that the same family had lost five members in a house fire 10 years ago.