Detectives were last night still questioning a 21-year-old man after two young children died in a house fire in Bradford.

The youngsters, named locally as ten-year-old Aleena Shah and her brother Aman, eight, died after the fire ripped through their home, in Hendford Drive, Pollard Park.

The children’s mother Irum, 30, last night remained critically ill in hospital.

Post-mortem examinations were taking place yesterday to establish how the children died.

A 21-year-old Bradford man yesterday remained in custody after being arrested on suspicion of murder.

Police are still appealing for information about the fire and want to hear from anyone who has information about anyone buying petrol in small cans either on Monday evening, or in the early hours of Tuesday – the day the fire took hold at about 12.30am.

Senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Bill Shackleton said: “I am continuing my appeal for anyone with information about the fire to come forward.

“It is essential we piece together what happened and how two young children lost their lives.”

Neighbour Zainab Maqsood, 17, said her younger sister and Aleena were best friends.

She said: “She was the most respectful little girl ever, cheery, happy, just how a little girl would be.

She described Aman as “crazy about football”.

She said: “All the boys were always playing. There was not one child in the neighbourhood he didn’t get on with. It’s the same with Aleena.”

Miss Maqsood described neighbours punching through windows to try and rescue the family.

She said she wrapped her headscarf around the burned woman to protect her after she was burned in the blaze.

“She was really badly burned,” she said.

“I tried to lift her up to comfort her. She had the strength to scream, ‘Save my kids, my kids are inside’.”

Anyone with information about the fire is asked to contact the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team at Bradford on (01274) 376575 or text 07786 200805 starting the message with the word FIRE.