Search teams to enter arson house

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Aerial footage of Shropshire mansion following fire

Police plan to enter the burned-out home of a missing family as soon as the structure is safe.

Christopher Foster, 50, wife Jillian, 49, and daughter Kirstie, 15, have not been seen since Tuesday's fire at the mansion near Maesbrook in Shropshire.

Three horses were found dead in the stables after the arson attack. Two dogs are also missing.

Officers have been unable to enter the house due to the fire's severity, and are waiting for it to be declared safe.

It is not yet known if the missing family were in the £1.2m property, called Osbaston House, at the time of the fire, which began shortly after 0500 BST.

In pictures: Arson house What is known about Mr Foster?

Police said they were "following every line of enquiry" to trace the family.

Superintendent Gary Higgins, from West Mercia Constabulary, said: "A lot of work has been done by the fire service overnight to damp it down and reduce the temperature enough for work to stabilise the structure to begin and make it safe to enter.

"Once it has been deemed safe, which we are hoping will be either this evening or tomorrow, specialist search teams and forensic experts will go in."

He added that even when officers had access to the house, the search could potentially take "several days".

'Painstaking' work

He said: "Until we can enter the property, we do not know whether the family was inside at the time of the fire, which we believe was started deliberately."

He said the debris inside the house would have to be "painstakingly sifted through and examined".

Officers have already carried out searches at the outhouses belonging to the property and remain at the scene scouring the evidence.

Companies House lists Mr Foster as the director of Ulva Limited - a thermal insulation manufacturing company in Telford. Mrs Foster is listed as company secretary.

The firm went into administration in August last year and a court order was issued in November for the company to be wound up.

Mr Foster was also the alleged victim of a blackmail - but two men were cleared of attempting to blackmail him into giving them £100,000 at Shrewsbury Crown Court in November 2006.

Police have circulated an all-ports warning to be on the lookout for the family.

The house, stable and garage have been severely damaged

They have also appealed for the family or anyone who may have seen them over the Bank Holiday weekend to get in touch urgently.

Kirstie is a year 10 pupil at Ellesmere College, an independent school in Ellesmere, Shropshire.

Headteacher Brendan Wignall said everyone was concerned for the family's safety.

"Kirstie is a charming, popular and hard working girl with many friends, all of whom are hoping she will be found safe and well."

Detectives said a CCTV system had been found at the property and would be examined over the coming days.

The house, which has electronic gates, is situated off the road between Maesbrook and Knockin.

Police said it was well alight when fire crews arrived.

About 80 officers and police personnel are involved in the investigation, which has been named Operation Feedback.

Neighbours have said the house's occupants kept themselves to themselves.

One neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, told the BBC: "Chris had many cars, the Ferrari, a Range Rover for going out shooting. Jill had another Range Rover.

"They were always extremely friendly... I just honestly don't know. Is he away on holiday? Is he local? Is he in the house? It's beyond comprehension."

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