Three children 'aged 12 and 13' critical in hospital with burns after fire at derelict pub

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Three young children were fighting for their lives in hospital today after a fire at a derelict pub, police have revealed. It's understood the children are aged between 12 and 13 and suffered serious burns.

No sexes for them have been revealed. The children were rescued by firefighters from the blaze at the former Woodman pub in Hazel Grove, Stockport, on Tuesday night.

In an update today, Greater Manchester Police described the condition of the children in hospital as 'critical'. The force said it believes the fire was started 'deliberately'.

No further details have been revealed but in a statement, GMP issued a warning to all children around the dangers of 'playing within disused buildings' as the summer holidays start.

According to social media reports, passers-by tried desperately to open a door at the building before firefighters ripped it off its hinges and entered to find the youngsters. All three were subsequently rescued and rushed to hospital.

It's understood the pub on London Road closed in 2011 and previous fires within the boarded-up building have been reported in the past. A huge emergency services response scrambled to the scene, closing off the main road between Mill St and Commercial Road. It's understood the fire broke out on the first floor of the derelict site.

In an update today - Wednesday - GMP said: "Yesterday evening (26 July) emergency services were called to a fire at a derelict building on London Road, Stockport.

"Three children were rescued from the building by firefighters and remain in hospital in a critical condition."

Detective Inspector Chris Aunins, of GMP's Stockport division, said: "We have launched an investigation in conjunction with Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service into