Man released under investigation after Preston house fire leaves two children in critical condition

A man has been released under investigation after a fire at a house in Preston.

Two children and their mum, in her twenties, were rescued by emergency services and taken to hospital after the blaze on Friday night.

A 24-year-old man arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life has now been released under investigation while enquiries continue.

ITV's Andrew Fletcher reports from the scene

The fire started at the address on Coronation Crescent on Friday night.

Crews got to the scene of the fire at 7:52pm.

The children were treated at the scene and later taken to hospital by paramedics in a critical condition.

The mother remains in hospital with injuries which are not thought to be life-threatening.

Her two children – a girl aged three and a boy aged five – remain in a critical condition. Their next of kin are with them in hospital and are being supported by specially-trained officers.

The fire is currently being treated as unexplained and a joint investigation is underway with Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service to establish exactly what occurred.

Four fire engines were used as well as an aerial ladder platform and it took crews two hours to control the blaze.

Lancashire police are now appealing for information following the fire.

Det Ch Insp Graham Hill, of the Force Major Investigation Team, said:

''Sadly the two children are still in hospital with life-threatening injuries, and we continue to keep them and their family in our thoughts at this awful time.

"A joint investigation with Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service is ongoing and the fire as being treated as unexplained while we establish a cause.

''We continue to ask if you have any information about the incident, and have not yet spoken to police, that you contact us as soon as possible.''

Anybody with information is asked to get in touch on 101, quoting log 1305 of April 8th.