Police have provided an update on a devastating fire that took the lives of a woman and two children.
From Gloucestershire Constabulary:
The recovery and removal of two children, believed to have died in a house fire in Brimscombe last week, took place yesterday (Tuesday).
Work had been taking place to locate the children, aged four and seven, following the fire at an address on Brimscombe Hill, Stroud on Boxing Day. The family dog has also been removed.
Emergency services were called to the property at around 3am last Friday.
A man and a woman were awoken by the fire and tried to reach their two children, aged four and seven, who were in the rear bedroom.
Both children are believed to have died following the fire. The body of a woman, aged in her late 30s, was removed from the property on Sunday (28 December).
Work will now take place to make the building safe in order for Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service to continue to carry out their investigation into the cause of the fire.
Temporary Chief Constable Maggie Blyth has thanked the public and all those involved in the work to date.
She said: “I want to take this opportunity to thank all those agencies which have worked with Gloucestershire Constabulary over the past few days – namely Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service, specialist fire services, the local authorities and the voluntary sector. It is right to thank them for the enduring and tenacious investigations of which they have been a part.
“More particularly, I want to thank our public, our communities in Gloucestershire, that have shown huge compassion and kindness to all officers and staff.
“I am conscious that this kindness and compassion, not just in Stroud but from across the county and beyond, has really enabled us to keep delivering a service over this Christmas and New Year period, at a time when such an awful tragedy has sent shockwaves through this organisation.
“Amidst all of this tragedy and awful upset, I also hope that we are able to dwell on the empathy, humanity and love that has been shown to us from across all of our communities in Gloucestershire.”