Blaze kills two children

Two young children died trying to hide in a wardrobe as fire swept through their bedroom yesterday.

Christopher Webb, aged four and his sister Patricia, three, were killed when the blaze broke out in the upstairs bedroom of their two-storey flat in Eltham, south London.

Their mother, Julie, 25, and two unnamed men were taken to St Mary's hospital, Sidcup, suffering from shock. One of the men had attempted to reach the children but was beaten back by fierce flames, Fire Brigade officials said.

Their bodies were discovered after firefighters fought their way into the bedroom using a hose reel, assistant divisional officer Dave Smith said.

He said there was no indication of what had started the fire.