Five people are being questioned by police after the deaths of three children in a house fire, as detectives investigate if petrol was poured through the letterbox.

Police had urged a murder suspect to hand themselves in following the fire at the mid-terraced house in Salford, Greater Manchester at just before 5am on Monday.

Demi Pearson, 14, was pronounced dead at the scene, while her eight-year-old brother, Brandon, and seven-year-old sister, Lacie, later died in hospital.

The children's 35-year-old mother, Michelle Pearson, is in a serious condition in hospital while a three-year-old girl is critically ill. Two 16-year-old boys, who were also in the house, managed to free themselves before fire crews arrived.

It is understood that police are investigating the possibility that petrol was poured through the letterbox of the house.