Fatal blaze father arrested after TV plea

The father of three children killed in an arson attack in Peterlee, Co Durham, on 22 February was arrested by police yesterday - the day after he made a television appeal for the killer to give himself up.

Graham Alderton, 29, was picked up by police after they received the results of tests to discover whether the fire was started inside or outside the house. Mr Alderton was found wearing underpants outside the blazing house and was taken to Hartlepool General Hospital suffering from a back injury.

The children's mother, Lisa Alexander, 24, who is expecting another child, suffered a severed tendon in her hand.