Prestatyn fire murder victims named by North Wales Police

The woman and two children who died in a fatal fire in a flat in Denbighshire have been named.

The deaths of Lee-Anna Shiers, 20, her nephew Bailey Allen, four, and his two-year-old sister Skye in Prestatyn are being treated as murder.

Neighbours made "valiant" attempts to save them but were beaten back by flames, say firefighters.

A man, 45, and a woman, 42, living in a flat downstairs have been arrested.

Ms Shiers' 15-month-old son Charlie is in a critical condition at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool and his father and Ms Shiers' partner Liam Timbrell, 23, is "critical but stable", say North Wales Police.

Ian Williams, incident commander at North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said when crews arrived at the scene they were faced with a "severe fire" on ground and first floors.

He added the fire was "spreading rapidly".

Det Supt John Chapman said: "My heart goes out to the families of the people who died here last night and those that are currently in hospital in a critical condition.

"It's fair to say there are no words that can describe how this family are feeling at this time."

There are no words that can describe how this family are feeling at this time.”

He said there were a number of lines of inquiry and a "meticulous investigation" would be carried out.

Mr Chapman said the fire had had a "severe" impact on the community and investigations where children had died were always "difficult".

Fire crews wearing breathing apparatus went into the property at Maes Y Groes at about 22:00 BST on Friday.

North Wales Police said the property had been converted into flats and the victims in the first floor flat.

All casualties are local to the Prestatyn area.

Mr Chapman said: "We would appeal for anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the Maes y Groes area of Prestatyn... [on Friday] evening to get in contact as soon as possible by calling us on 101.

"We are deploying family liaison officers to work closely with the next of kin at this difficult time.

"There is a team of dedicated officers working on specific lines of inquiry in relation to this incident."

Crews from Rhyl and Prestatyn were sent to the scene.

A joint investigation is being carried out between North Wales fire service and North Wales Police.

Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust said Mr Timbrell and his baby son were taken to Glan Clwyd Hospital in Rhyl but he was later transferred to Whiston Hospital, Merseyside.

Charlie was also transferred for further treatment at Alder Hey.

Two fire crews from Rhyl and a crew from Prestatyn brought the blaze under control and carried out a search for any casualties.

The street was cordoned off.