Boy aged eight killed and woman injured in Cheshire house fire

'We did everything we could to try and get in there, but flames were just lapping around everything,' says a neighbour

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service said four crews were sent to the property and extinguished the fire (Getty)

An eight-year-old boy has died after becoming trapped in a house blaze.

Emergency services were called to the property on Platt Avenue, Sandbach, Cheshire, at 2.52am on Sunday where they found a woman outside the semi-detached house with serious burns.

The 35-year-old, believed to be the boy's mother, was described by onlookers as screaming after the boy was left inside the burning house.

She was taken to Leighton Hospital, Crewe, where she remains in a stable condition.

But the youngster, who was eventually rescued from the upstairs of the property, died at 5am despite the efforts of paramedics.

One neighbour described how he attempted to smash a window as part of a doomed rescue effort, before being overcome by the intensity of the flames.

"We did everything we could to try and get in there, but flames were just lapping around everything ," he told ITV Granada.

"After we broke the window it just all flashed over in intense heat and there was just no way in."

The child, who has not yet been named, is said to have been a pupil at Offley Primary School.

A statement from the school said: "Offley Primary School are devastated to hear the news this morning of the loss of one of our pupils.

"Pupils and staff will be offered support over the coming days at this deeply sad time.

"Our thoughts go out to the family and friends."

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service said four crews were sent to the property and extinguished the fire. An investigation is now under way.

A spokesman for Cheshire Constabulary said: "Our thoughts at the current time are with the family of the boy and we request for their privacy to be respected at this difficult time.

"The cause of the fire, which has since been extinguished, is currently unknown and a full investigation has been launched.

Press Association