A 21-year-old man has denied murdering a mother and her two young children in a house fire.

Asjid Mahmood, of Pollard Lane, Undercliffe, Bradford, will stand trial at Bradford Crown Court on January 12 next year.

He pleaded not guilty yesterday to the murders of Iram Shah, 30, her daughter, Alina, ten, and her son, Aman, eight.

Mahmood is accused of murdering the children on July 6 this year and their mother on July 12.

The youngsters died in a blaze at their home in Hendford Drive, Pollard Park, Bradford.

Mrs Shah suffered severe burns in the fire.

She was treated in a burns unit at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield, where she died six days later.

It was reported that Mrs Shah jumped from an upstairs window in flames trying to escape the inferno that engulfed her home.

Mahmood, who wore a grey jacket and jeans for the hearing, was remanded back into custody by Mr Justice Treacy.

He will next appear at the court for a case management hearing on November 5 when the progress of the case will be reviewed.

Mahmood’s barrister, Julian Goose QC, said the trial was expected to last four weeks.

Andrew Stubbs QC, for the Crown, said it was possible another person could face charges in connection with the fire.

The trial was originally fixed for January 4 but the court was told the High Court judge who will hear the case was coming to Bradford on January 12.

Mr Goose made no application for bail on behalf of his client.