Police speaking at a press conference in Chelmsford just now, are appealing for any help and witnesses following the tragic house fire in Barnmead Harlow Essex earlier today, in which four children and a woman tragically died.

The dead have been named as Sabah Usmani, who was a doctor, and her sons Sohaib, 11, and Rayan, six, and daughter Hira, 13,.A third son, Muneeb, nine, and daughter Maheen, three, were rescued and taken to hospital, but Muneeb later died. Daughter Maheen remains in a c.ritical condition at a specialist burns unit. Another child, who was in the building in Harlow, is being treated in hospital.

Police said the shocked and devastated children's father Abdul Shakour, who is also a doctor, tried hard to help his family in appalling conditions, but was beaten back by flames and had escaped the fire by the time the rescue services arrived. They have said they are treating the fire as suspicious and are appealing for people to come forward with any information.

Written by and Presented by Ann Salter