Jennie Aitken
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

Residents living close to the house in which four children died in a fire have been talking about how badly they've been affected by the news.

Kylie, a neighbour, said: "I am absolutely devastated. Devastated for the family, and devastated because you'd hear the children playing in the garden.

"It just makes you think how fragile life is really, because in a second your house and your family can disappear."

Sophie Madden
BBC News

Sycamore Lane in Stafford is in an ordinary residential area, normally quite quiet but today filled with police and the fire service.

People are driving around, going about their business, and a frost hangs in the air.

Though the fire is out, the street where the family lives remains cordoned off.

Image source, PA

One woman, who did not wish to be named, said she was woken by the flashing lights.

“I could see smoke and flames coming from the roof,” she said.

“I heard about what happened and it is so sad.”

Two church services are to be held in Stafford later to offer prayers for those involved in a house fire in which four children have died.

Castle Church in Newport Road, Stafford will hold services at 14:30 and 19:00.

Image source, Google

Rev Philip Sowerbutt said to say the whole area is in shock is an understatement.

"I heard about it early this morning and contacted other churches in the area who have links to the local schools," he said.

The services are open to the whole community.

Image source, PA

The leader of Staffordshire County Council said he'd been left "shocked" to hear of the deaths of four children "in the heart of our community".

Image source, PA

In a statement Philip Atkins said: "We will support the family in any way and our thoughts and prayers are very much with all those who knew and loved these children and who now must cope with this tragic loss.

"I would also thank all the emergency services for their work and professionalism in these devastating circumstances."

Four children have been found dead after a house fire in Stafford.

Here's what we know so far:

Image source, PA

• Emergency services were called to reports of a "serious" fire at a property in Sycamore Lane in the Highfields area of Stafford at about 02:40.
• Initial reports were that the blaze started at the rear of the property.

• Staffordshire Police confirmed four children had been found dead at the house.
• Two adults and a child managed to escape the property and are now being treated in hospital
• A resident said they heard there was a man who jumped out of the window with a baby or young child.

Image source, PA

• Emergency services are still at the scene
• A fire investigation has been launched.
• The family are being supported by specialist police officers.

The MP for Stafford has described the deaths of four children in a house fire as "unbelievably tragic."

Jeremy Lefroy tweeted his sympathies to their families and thanked all the emergency services for their work.

Jennie Aitken
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

Neighbours have started to gather on Sycamore Drive in Stafford at the scene of a house fire in which four children were found dead.

I've spoken to a few people who are understandably very upset at what's happened, and one person told me they heard there was a man that jumped out the window with a baby or a young child.

A few neighbours told me they were woken up by the sound of a blast or an explosion.

The fire service is investigating and we don't yet know what has caused the fire.

Two adults and another child are also in hospital following the blaze in Stafford.

Jennie Aitken
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

Emergency service staff have been paying their condolences after four children were found dead following a house fire.

Another child is in hospital after the fire in Sycamore Lane, Stafford, which also left two adults injured.

BBC Radio Stoke's Jennie Aitken said neighbours described being woken up by a noise which sounded like a “poof”.

"The house’s roof is damaged, windows are smashed out and the rooms are blackened.

"There is a large police and fire service presence, and Sycamore Lane has been cordoned off."

The men had been told they could come back to campus after their 10-year-ban was reduced to one.

Ambulance staff arrived at the scene of the fatal house fire in Stafford to find an ongoing serious fire, the service said.

Two adults and a child managed to get out of the house on Sycamore Lane, Stafford.

They were treated by medical staff at the scene before being taken to hospital for further care.

“Tragically, four children from the property were confirmed dead on scene," West Midlands Ambulance Service said.

“Our thoughts are with the family at this exceptionally difficult time.”

Emergency services are still at the scene of a house fire in Stafford where four children have died.

Staffordshire Police said a search of the house is still continuing but can confirm the deaths of the four children at the property.

Image source, BBC Stoke

Two adults and another child are being treated in hospital for injuries not believed to be life-threatening, a statement said.

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

Emergency services were called to the scene, in Highfields, during the early hours.

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service are examining the scene.

Four children have been found dead following a fire.

Two adults and another child are being treated in hospital after the blaze at a house in Sycamore Lane, Highfields, in Stafford.

The fire broke out during the early hours.

Should new powers to tackle anti-social behaviour such as vaping and smoking on buses be introduced, external?

Image source, Transport for West Midlands

Transport for West Midlands says research suggests 11.5% more journeys would be made by public transport if people felt safer.

A consultation about how it should tackle problems such as loud music being played is running until 29 March with events being held at bus stations across the region.

Two University of Warwick students who were involved in an online group chat that threatened rape will not be returning, despite a ban on their attendance being lifted.

The pair were barred from the campus for 10 years, but this was reduced to 12 months after an appeal.

Image source, Getty Images

In an update published on the university's website , externalon Monday afternoon, Vice Chancellor Stuart Croft said: "We are committed to ensuring the safety of our community.

"I have today spoken to the two young men concerned and confirm that neither of them will be returning to the university.

Negotiations are continuing to try to prevent strike action by bin workers in Birmingham.

Image source, Getty Images

Up to 300 Unite members have been working to rule since 29 December over a payment given to GMB members who did not take part in previous action.

Unite said its members would now stage walkouts for two days a week from later this month.

Council leader Ian Ward said the council was still "unofficially" talking to the union "through other sources".

"We very much hope we can get back round the table at ACAS, talk about the offer we've made, and resolve the dispute".

BBC News Travel

There's ten miles of queuing traffic on the M6 southbound after an earlier crash.

One lane is closed from J7, A34 Birmingham Road to J6, A38(M).

Travel time is about 50 minutes, said Highways England.

Sara Blizzard
BBC Weather

After a foggy start for some it will be a cloudy day with some patchy rain and highs of 7C (45F).

Vanessa Pearce
BBC News

Welcome to our live service for Tuesday.

We'll be bringing you all the news, sport, travel and weather for the West Midlands.

We love to hear from you so share your news, thoughts and photos of the area with us via email, Twitter, external and Facebook, external.

It's not just a quick coat of red gloss when Kirsty Meakin does her nails.