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 how the fire started.
"We believe that it may have been started deliberately and so we are appealing for anyone with information, or anyone who may have dash cam footage to get in touch with police to help with our enquiries. Now we are in the school summer holiday period, I’d like to appeal to parents and carers to explain to children the dangers of playing within disused buildings, as they pose a really serious risk with a number of potential dangers within them."
Scenes of crime investigators and fire investigators remained at the scene today.
Five fire engines raced to the scene, with the road remaining closed late into Tuesday evening. Fire crews from Cheshire were also called in to tackle the flames. Pictures from the scene in the aftermath showed a cordon in place around the scorched site.
A Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said last night: "At around 8.30pm this evening (26 July), we were called to reports of a fire on the first floor of a two-storey derelict commercial building on London Road, Hazel Grove, Stockport.
"Five engines from Offerton, Whitehill, Marple, Cheadle and Stockport and an additional crew from Cheshire arrived quickly arrived on the scene. Three children were rescued from the building and have been conveyed to hospital by paramedics.
"Crews are now damping down the building and London Road is closed. Firefighters as well as colleagues from North West Ambulance Service and Greater Manchester Police remain on the scene."
The Manchester Evening News has contacted Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service for further comment.
North West Ambulance Service said two ambulances, a rapid response vehicle and its Hazardous Area Response Team were called to the scene. A spokesman said all three children were taken to hospital with burns.
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