Fire victim's stepfather arrested

A man who battled to rescue his two-year-old stepdaughter from a blazing van has been arrested in connection with the fire at a farm.

Isobel Dobson died after being trapped in the vehicle when fire broke out at the farm near Wakefield, West Yorkshire, on Friday evening. Isobel's mother and her stepfather rescued their one-year-old daughter from the van but were beaten back by the flames as they tried to save the second little girl.

Yesterday, West Yorkshire Police said a 37-year-old man from Wakefield was being questioned in connection with the fire, which is now being treated as suspicious.

A spokesman said: "Inquiries into the cause of the fire, which is now being treated as suspicious, are ongoing and a joint investigation is being carried out by West Yorkshire Police and West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service."

Emergency services were called to the fire at about 5.30pm on Friday and found a van and two barns ablaze.

Ten fire engines were at the scene at the height of the blaze.