Distraught family members and neighbours have laid flowers and soft toys outside a Stafford home where four children died when a “sheet of fire” swept through their home in the middle of the night.

As teachers who knew the four children paid tribute to their “happy, loving natures”, local community groups and parents rallied round with donations for the surviving family and offers of emotional support for those left in shock by the news.

The fire destroyed the semi-detached property at about 2.40am on Tuesday, killing eight-year-old Riley Holt, Keegan Unitt, six, and his siblings Olly and Tilly Rose Unitt.

A fifth child, named locally as two-year-old Jack, escaped from a first-floor window with his mother Natalie Unitt and her partner Chris Moulton. They remain in hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The cause of the fire is still being investigated. The house is thought to be uninhabitable, with the blaze destroying the roof and much of the top floor.

Staffordshire police said: “A search at the property in Sycamore Lane is ongoing, but it is with great sadness we can confirm the deaths of four children at the property.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Firefighters at the scene of the blaze, which is thought to have started at the back of the house. Photograph: Aaron Chown/PA

“Colleagues from Staffordshire fire and rescue service are examining the scene as the investigation into the cause of the fire begins. Our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time.”

Nicola Glover, the acting headteacher at Castlechurch primary school, which some of the children attended, said the school community was “absolutely devastated” by the news.

She described Riley as confident, excitable and a caring friend: “[He] hated to see anyone hurt or upset and would do his best to help or cheer them up,” she said. “Riley had a great sense of humour and an infectious giggle.

Glover said Tilly was “a happy little girl who loved coming to nursery. She was a friendly and caring child who loved to read stories, dress up and paint. Tilly was always proud of her achievements.” And she described three-year-old Olly as a happy and loving boy.

Kim Ellis, the headteacher at Marshlands special school where Keegan was a pupil, described him as lively and full of mischief. “[He had] a really endearing smile,” she said. “He loved school and everyone who worked with him loved him.”

Facebook Twitter Pinterest A woman lays flowers on Whittingham Drive, near the scene of the fire. Photograph: Aaron Chown/PA

Parents at a local school set up a donations page and have raised thousands towards funeral costs and other expenses.

The local community centre is accepting donations including electrical appliances and furniture as well as offering emotional support alongside nearby churches.

Liz Dipple, who leads the Rising Brook Baptist church, said they have been overwhelmed by the level of support for the family. “There is a lot of support,” she said. “We just need to make sure that it’s coordinated and offers the family exactly what they need when they are out [of hospital].”

Outside the house, floral tributes were being laid by loved ones and members of the community. One read: “My lovely grandkids, I will always miss you.”

An ambulance service dispatcher was among those paying their respects with a bouquet. A note taped to the flowers said: “RIP you beautiful angels. I don’t know you personally but I was involved in last night’s incident.

“I am so gutted we couldn’t save you all. I hope your family can remain strong and you will remain in everyone’s hearts forever.”

Facebook Twitter Pinterest A floral tribute to the three boys aged three, six and eight and four-year-old girl who died in the fire. Photograph: Aaron Chown/PA

One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said he dreaded telling his six-year-old son the news: “He was best friends with one of the children. I don’t know what to tell him. His best friend is gone and he is too young to understand.”



He said he and other neighbours woke up while the fire was still ablaze and tried to get help but were unable: “There was nothing we could do, the flames were too big.”

A nearby resident described how flames engulfed an upstairs window at the property. The witness, who asked not to be named, told the Press Association: “We heard a bang and looked out of the back window upstairs. At the start it was just a sheet of fire coming out of the bedroom window.”

Another woman, who did not give her name, said: “A man and a woman got into an ambulance. They were in blankets and she had the little one in her arms. I’d assumed they had all got out. It’s terribly sad, almost beyond belief.”