A mum and her six-year-old son died in the early hours of today after fire swept through their Bradford home.

Three other children, including 13 and 18-year-old boys, managed to escape the fierce blaze in Broadstone Way, Holme Wood.

One of them is understood to have suffered serious injuries.

Two Bradford firefighters had to be taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary for treatment for blistering to the face and hands after battling their way through the intense flames in a desperate attempt to reach the family.

Today blue and white police tape surrounded the house. A police officer is pictured guarding the scene before investigators moved in to establish the cause of the blaze, which left the semi-detached home a burned shell.

Relatives of the family gathered next door as they tried to come to terms with the tragedy.

A neighbour said his son alerted him to the fire when he heard shouting and screaming and dashed outside to find a crowd of people trying to help.

"We managed to get one lad to jump out of the window," he said. "He was taken to hospital, but was all right."

He said the 38-year-old mother had lived in the house with her four sons, and described them as "quiet".

Crews from Bradford and Odsal were called at 12.23am today.

David Swales, Bradford's station officer, said as they approached the semi-detached house he could see a large, black column of smoke emerging from over the roof tops.

"I have been in the job for 30 years and this is one of the worst house fires I have ever seen," he said.

"When we got there the house was well alight. Local residents were making efforts and trying with ladders to rescue the family. People were very distressed."

Mr Swales said flames were coming out of the front door and the living room was engulfed in fire. At first the crew were told that up to four people were in the house and tried to get in through the front door, into the front bedroom via a ladder and through the back of the house.

"It was hectic and information was confused," he said. "We were trying to get in, but the heat was tremendous and driving us back."

After several attempts firefighters got into the front bedroom through the window and found the six-year-old boy. They went back and found the body of his mother.

"Paramedics tried to revive them but it was fairly obvious things were not going to work out," Mr Swales said.

"The crews that came out were extremely upset that in their eyes they had failed. Two people got out before we got there. Physically they are quite well, but obviously they are bad in terms of the mental torture."

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance Service said the victims were taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary, where the woman and boy were dead on arrival.

Another adult was taken to hospital with serious injuries and two other children with smoke inhalation.

Firefighters managed to rescue the family dog. The cause of the fire has not yet been established but fire crews believe it started in the living room. It caused severe damage to the building, burning through ceilings.

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said the Coroner had been informed of the deaths and officers were investigating the cause of the fire.

Holme Wood vicar, the Reverend Gordon Dey said he felt shocked and speechless on hearing the news.

"It's just devastating for the family, friends and whole community. What can anyone say?

"One of Holme Wood's outstanding features is the huge level of care people have for one another and the way they rally round to support each other. I am sure people did all they could for the family last night and will be there to get each other through this tragedy."