• e-mail

A father jumped from a window with a baby in his arms as flames inundated his family home and killed four other children, shocked neighbours have said.

The blaze tore through the end-of-terrace home in Stafford in the early hours of this morning, claiming the lives of the youngsters, who are aged between two and eight.

The children's parents and another child were taken to hospital and are expected to survive the injuries they suffered.  

The children's mother, named locally as Natalie Unitt, is said to have escaped the blaze and banged on the doors of neighbours to raise the alarm.

The children's father, said to be Ms Unitt's partner Chris Moulton, then jumped from a window with a young child in his arms as the flames took hold, witnesses said.

The couple have five children, named by friends as Riley, Keegan, Tilly, Olly and Jack. It is, at the moment, unclear which of the children survived.

Fire crews remain at the scene of a gutted house where four children lost their lives last night

The children's mother has been named locally as mother-of-five Natalie Unitt

Pictures from neighbouring houses show the flames in the end-of-terrace house last night

Neighbours say it was home to a couple with one pre-school child and others of school age

The house was covered in tarpaulin this morning as investigators try to determine the cause

The fire is said to have started in one of the children's bedrooms before spreading to the rest of the house. 

Tearful neighbour Wendy Pickering , 58, said: 'I heard the kids screaming, it was horrible.

'We weren't sure if they were in the house or outside. One of them goes to the same school as my granddaughter.

'We thought it was gas, we saw the windows of the parents room, the flames were going up the roof. I thought they'd all gone out.'

Another local resident, Jason Stones, 48, said: 'You could hear small pops and explosions coming from the house. I looked out the window and smoke was pouring from the back of the house down the road.

'My wife dialled 999 while I rushed outside and you could feel the heat coming up the road.

'They are a nice family, but I only know them to say hello to. It is a couple in their 20s or 30s there, I used to see the mum walking the kids to school.

'One of them was in a pushchair but I think the others were of school age. It's a terrible tragedy for the family.

'I have kids of my own but you can't imagine the pain they must be going through. I just feel so gutted for the family and those poor children. The house was absolutely gutted, they didn't stand a chance.' 

Police say four children died in the blaze and two adults, believed to be the children's parents, were rushed to hospital along with another child

Pictures from the scene this morning show part of the building's roof has collapsed inward

Neighbours reportedly heard the sound of a small explosion and looked out to see the fire

It is believed the house is owned by a local housing association, who have yet to comment on the fire.  

Another neighbour, who asked to remain anonymous, added: 'I've heard the dad jumped from the top window holding his child.

'I guess you would do anything that you could, I can't imagine the heartbreak they must be feeling at not being able to save the others.

'There were several small explosions, which sounded like fireworks going off. The flames were pretty high at one point, they were coming out of the roof.' 

Kylea Clinton, 39, of neighbouring Milton Grove, said: 'I used to see the kids out and about. I'm absolutely speechless. In one night nearly the whole family is gone.'

Another resident said: 'I was awoken by the sound of sirens and saw blue flashing lights illuminating the street.

'I rushed out and you could see the flames straight away. The family haven't been there that long, it must be about a year or so and they seemed very nice and friendly. It desperately tragic.'

A large number of fire crew vehicles are now parked around the house as the investigation into what caused the blaze continues

A fire ladder sits in the back garden on the home following the battle to tackle the fire last night

A large number of fire experts are at the scene as the investigation into the cause continues

Another local resident added: 'The room at the back was completely full of flames,' the woman said. We just stood there with our hands over our mouths wondering what was going to happen next.

'A man and a woman got into an ambulance. They were in blankets and she had the little one in her arms. I'd assumed they had all got out. It's terribly sad, almost beyond belief.' 

Another said: 'We heard a bang and looked out of the back window upstairs. At the start it was just a sheet of fire coming out of the bedroom window. It seemed to take ages for the fire brigade to arrive - it seemed like forever.' 

Neither the names nor the ages of the children who died have been released by police, who say they are supporting the family involved.

Pictures from the scene this morning show part of the building's roof has collapsed and windows have been smashed.

Neighbours were reportedly woken by the sound of a small explosion and looked out of their windows to see the flames. 

A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: 'At 2:40am this morning (Feb 5) police officers and colleagues from the fire and ambulance services attended a serious house fire in the Highfields area of Stafford.

'A search at the property in Sycamore Lane is ongoing, but it is with great sadness we can confirm the deaths of four children at the property.

'Two adults and another child are being treated in hospital. Their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.'

Sycamore Lane, where the fire broke out, is in the middle of the Highfields housing estate, which is to the south-west of Stafford

The police spokesman added: 'Colleagues from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service are examining the scene as the investigation into the cause of the fire begins.

'Our thoughts are with the family, who are being supported by specialist officers at this difficult time.'

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue are examining the scene and police have begun an investigation into the cause of the fire.

In a statement, police said: 'Our thoughts are with the family, who are being supported by specialist officers at this difficult time.'

West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) were called by the fire service.

Two paramedic officers, three ambulances, the Trust's hazardous area response team, the Merit trauma team and a Basics emergency doctor attended the scene.

Police say the family of the children who died are being supported by expert teams

A spokeswoman for WMAS said: 'When crews arrived they found an ongoing serious house fire. Three occupants, two adults and a child, had managed to get out of the property.

'All three patients were assessed and treated on scene by ambulance staff for non-life threatening injuries before being taken to hospital for further care.

'Tragically, four children from the property were confirmed dead on scene. Our thoughts are with the family at this exceptionally difficult time.'

Local residents reacted with horror after police announced the deaths.

One Facebook user wrote: 'Devastating news, thoughts go out the the family and the emergency service staff who were dealing with it.'

Another wrote: 'OMG what awful news to wake up to this morning. Absolutely devastated! I don't think there's anything anyone can say right now.

'But please, let's pull together as a community and do the best we can for all those affected. Bless them all.'