Five kids die in Derbyshire house fire

Two people are being questioned on suspicion of murder in connection with the deaths of five children in a Derbyshire house fire.

A 38-year-old man from Derby was arrested yesterday by detectives investigating the deaths of 10-year-old Jade Philpott, and her siblings John, nine, Jack, seven, Jessie, six, and five-year-old Jayden. Police said a 28-year-old woman had also been arrested on suspicion of murder.

The children died after a fire broke out at their home in Allenton, a suburb of Derby, in the early hours.

Their 13-year-old brother, Duwayne, who was also in the semi-detached property at the time of the blaze, remains in a critical condition in hospital in Birmingham.

The children's father has been named locally as Mick Philpott, who was dubbed Shameless Mick in 2007 after a television documentary by former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe detailed his benefit claims and refusal to get a job. Philpott, said to be the father of 17 children, hit the headlines after demanding a larger house to share with his wife, girlfriend and eight offspring.

Philpott and Duwayne's mother are believed to be at the teenager's bedside in hospital.

Widdecombe, who spent a week living with the then 57-year-old Philpott for the programme Ann Widdecombe Versus The Benefit Culture, said following the tragedy: "Nobody would ever call him a bad father. I'm so sorry to hear the news and my thoughts are with the family."

Philpott is reported to have demanded the bigger property because his council house was too cramped to accommodate the family. He wanted the city council to rehouse them, but the authority said they already had the biggest available council property in the city.

Police said there appeared to have been "valiant attempts by the father to rescue his children".

Two adults, whom he did not name, escaped the fire without serious injury after being alerted by a smoke detector.

- AAP