Detectives question man over fire deaths

Police were last night continuing to question a man in connection with a fire which killed four children. Officers have confirmed that the blaze had been started deliberately.

The bodies of six-year-old Patrick Good, his brother Terry, 12, and their sisters Alison, 10, and Nicola, eight, were found by firefighters in the back bedroom of their home at Sullivan Road, Sholing, Southampton, early on Sunday morning. Post-mortem examinations showed that all four died from inhaling fumes.

The children's parents Beverley and Melvyn Good and their 14-year-old daughter, Kelly, managed to escape, but Kelly suffered serious burns.

Mrs Good was yesterday said to be "devastated" by the tragedy and told relatives that she wished the whole family could have died together.

Meanwhile, police declined to give any details about the man they have been questioning since he was detained on Sunday. Forensic experts also continued to search the burnt-out building for clues yesterday.

Detective Superintendent Peter Neyroud said: "The preliminary indications are that we are dealing with a fire that was caused deliberately."

Exactly how the fire was set and the arsonist's motive were still being examined, but police were investigating the possibility that someone might have had a grudge against the family.

Mr Neyroud said police were anxious to talk to anyone who was in the area of Sullivan Road between midnight and 2 am on Sunday and particularly wanted to hear from anyone who may have seen somebody riding or pushing a bike.