Young boys die in house blaze

Two young boys died in a fire which engulfed their home on Saturday afternoon. Taylor Jenkins, five, and his seven-year-old brother, Lewis, became trapped in the burning house as their distraught mother, Denise Goldsmith, and neighbours fought to break in and save them. Ms Goldsmith, 29, friends said, had become locked outside the property when she rushed out to scream for help.

Yesterday Ms Goldsmith, who was treated for minor injuries, had to be restrained from going back into the wreckage of her home in Eastbourne, East Sussex, when she came to lay flowers in memory of her sons. Ms Goldsmith was comforted by relatives.

As Sussex Police forensic officers and fire investigators from East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service continued to search the house, neighbours described how they had tried to save the children when the fire broke out.

Jason Maynard, 35, and his brother, Gary, said they heard cries for help from across the road and ran over to help.

"She was screaming, 'Please save my kids, get them out, my kids, my kids,' " said Mr Maynard, explaining that Ms Goldsmith had been caught outside when the front door shut behind her.

"The kids wouldn't have been able to reach the door latch to let themselves out. We tried to get through the back door, but it was blocked inside with boxes of stuff.

"We came back round the front and tried again, but by then it was too late. The kitchen had caught fire. The house was full of flames. They were licking at the door frames and shooting up the stairs, and there was a huge amount of smoke. There was nothing we could do."

Tony Fryers, 62, smashed a window in an attempt to save the children. "I tried to get to them but I couldn't. It was too late. It was tragic seeing their bodies being brought out [by firefighters] like that," he said.

Last night the Eastbourne District Commander for Sussex Police, Chief Inspector Dick Coates, said: "We will look at whether it was arson but there is currently no evidence to suggest that it was. Initial indications do not suggest this being anything other than a tragic accident."

Yesterday floral tributes were left in memory of the two "lovely little boys", pupils at Shinewater Primary School.

Linda Carey, a friend of the children's father, Stuart Jenkins, said: "They were such wonderful children. They loved playing on their Xbox 360s and PSPs. We used to have them round for barbecues, and they would always play with my kids on their bikes and scooters.

"Stuart and Denise absolutely doted on those boys. She is currently staying with her mum. She must be absolutely torn apart."

Ben Quicke, 16, added: "They were lovely kids. Lewis was a Manchester United fan. Taylor was like a crazy little monkey, everybody called him 'monkey', Lewis was a smart kid."