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Officers investigating a fatal fire in Stafford this morning have released names of the children who are believed to have died.
The children have yet to be formally identified but are believed to be Riley Holt, aged eight, Keegan Unitt, aged six, Tilly Rose Unitt, aged four, and Olly Unitt, aged three.
Image source, OtherThe house where a fatal fire broke out during the early hours is managed by social landlord Stafford and Rural Homes.
The company said it was "incredibly saddened to hear about the tragic fire at one of our properties in Stafford this morning."
Image source, PAIn a statement it said: "Deepest sympathies and thoughts are with the family.
"SARH is assisting the Police and Fire Service and is here to support anyone who needs our help".
The firm is the largest social landlord in Stafford.
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Read MoreSophie Madden
BBC News
Shock and tragedy, those are the words of neighbours after the deaths of four children in a Staffordshire house fire.
Those living around the home in Sycamore Lane, Stafford, said they have never seen anything like this before.
One neighbour, bringing in her bins, who did not wish to be identified, said: “It is tragic, those children, it is such a shame.”
Image source, PANeighbour Karl Griffiths was among those who left a stuffed toy.
"I knew the family quite well. I feel distraught," he said.
"If I had known what was happening I would have come to help. I would.
"I just wanted to pay my condolences, it is the least I could do."
This is a picture of the four children who died in a house fire in Stafford earlier.
The children have been named locally as Riley, Keegan, Tilly and Olly, aged between three and eight.
The siblings' brother survived the blaze along with his mother, Natalie Unitt, 24, and her partner Chris Moulton, 28. The adults are thought to be being treated in hospital for burns and smoke inhalation.
Image source, UnknownA church which is holding special services for those affected by the fatal fire in Stafford said the whole community has been "shaken by this tragedy".
Rev Philip Sowerbutts, of Castle Church in Highfields, said: "As a church family we have committed to both praying for the family and community and to help in any practical way".
It has issued specific prayers on Twitter and Facebook for those who "want to pray but struggle to find the right words".
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The assistant chief officer of West Midlands Ambulance said a fire in which three boys and a girl died was an immensely difficult incident for all three (emergency) services to respond to.
"Our thoughts remain with the family and friends and four children at this time," added Nathan Hudson.
Image source, ReutersThe siblings' brother survived the blaze, along with his mother, Natalie Unitt, 24, and her partner Chris, 28.
Police said a man who escaped the fire is being treated for burns and the woman for smoke inhalation. All three are in hospital, but their injuries are not life-threatening.
The children who died have been named locally as Riley, Keegan, Tilly and Olly.
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Read MoreStafford Borough Council Leader Patrick Farrington described this morning's fire in Stafford as "horrible news".
Image source, PA"Four young lives have been lost and I cannot comprehend how their family and loved ones can even begin to come to terms with this.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.
"We are also thinking of our emergency services who will have been deeply affected by this tragedy," he added.
Three boys aged three, six and eight and a girl aged four died in a house fire in Stafford, police have said.
Image source, PAThe children have been named locally as Riley, Keegan, Tilly and Olly.
Ch Insp Gemma Ward of Staffordshire Police confirmed the youngest child, a boy, escaped the blaze with a woman, 24, and a man, 28.
Rob Barber, deputy chief fire officer for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "One male, one female and a baby had escaped from the property prior to our arrival via a first-floor window.
"Our firefighters were faced with very difficult conditions inside the property due to the severity of the fire.
"At this time I cannot comment further on the likely cause."
Wendy Pickering says she was in shock after learning the children had not escaped the blaze.
Read MoreThe four children who died in a Stafford house fire have been named locally as Riley, Keegan, Tilly and Olly - aged between three and eight.
Toys and flowers have been laid near the scene.
A hand-written note attached to a cuddly toy read: "RIP Babes xx life is so so cruel.
"All our thoughts are with the family at this very sad time."
One note read: "Will be dearly missed, love Uncle Dave and Auntie Lou Lou", while another added: "To my lovely grandkids I will always miss you. Love you always xxx"
Flowers and toys are being laid at the scene of a fire in Stafford in which four children died.
One neighbour, Amanda Blagg, visited the scene to lay flowers and a teddy in memory of the children.
The 38-year-old told reporters: "I saw the mum every day at the school - her son is in the nursery with my son.
"I heard what had happened on the news and I just cried straight away. It's awful."
Staffordshire Chief Fire Officer Becci Bryant has paid her condolences to the family and friends of those affected by the fatal house fire.
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Read MoreA friend of the children's mother said she believed the family had lived at the end-terrace property for around six months, having moved there from another part of Stafford.
Image source, Getty Images/AFPNeighbour Bryan Pickering, who lives about 40 yards from the scene of the fire, was among those who contacted the emergency services after spotting the blaze.
"We were straight on to 999," he said.
"The flames were coming out that bad, there was nothing you could have done - even with a ladder."
It's been confirmed four children died in the fire in Sycamore Lane.
Sophie Madden
BBC News
A neighbour whose home backs on to the street where the fire in which four children died broke out said her daughter had gone to the bathroom during the early hours and heard a loud bang.
Image source, PA“She thought it was just drunk people but we looked through the bedroom window and the whole back bedroom was a wall of flames," she said.
“It took ages for the fire engines to come, we were just stood there with our hands over our mouths because we didn’t know what was going to happen next.
“I had to tell my son it was fireworks because he is autistic and panics.
Image source, PA“We saw two people wrapped in blankets walk down the street and into a police car, carrying the little one.
“There were four or five fire engines and loads of ambulances but one left. When it went we assumed everyone had got out okay.
“We didn’t know what had happened until we saw the news.”
Liz Copper
Reporter, BBC Midlands Today
High rise ladders are now up against the first floor of a property in Stafford in which four children were found dead after a fire.
Image source, Getty Images/AFPIt's where the investigators seem to be concentrating their efforts.
But it's obviously too early to speculate on what might be the cause of the fire and news is still sinking in on the estate.
Image source, PAWe know that the children attended a local nursery which has been closed this morning.
BBC Radio Stoke
Staffordshire's Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Ellis has paid tribute to the emergency workers involved in last night's fatal fire, which he described as "heartbreaking".
It's a really sad day for the whole of Staffordshire,” he said.
Image source, PASpeaking to BBC Radio Stoke he thanked staff who had worked in "tragic and difficult circumstances".
“It is early days, but we just have to give our thoughts to all involved and our thanks to the emergency services who acted so quickly.”
“It’s very difficult to imagine just how professional and how dedicated these people are, but they are all human beings," he said.
Image source, Reuters“Whilst they will all stay professional, this will affect all of those individuals who are involved in that for a long time to come.
“This will have an effect on the wider community in that area for some time. It can’t possibly not have an effect.
Image source, Reuters"It's important all of the different agencies involved rally round to support the community and those individuals who are close by and know the family well, and also make sure that those emergency workers involved have proper support available them to as well," he added.
Sophie Madden
BBC News
Neighbour Wendy Pickering was in tears remembering the children who she says she often saw while taking her granddaughter to school.
Husband Bryan said: “The dog started going mad, we thought it was a cat but it was something different.
“The flames were lashing out of the upstairs window.
“We only know them (the family) by sight.”
Wendy added: “It is a real shock.