A woman in her 20s has been arrested on suspicion of murder after five children died in a house fire on Victory Road, in Allenton, Derby in the early hours of this morning.

Emergency services were called to the fire just before 4am. Although members of the fire services were able to get the children out of the house, they were unable to save five of them.

Derbyshire Police have confirmed that the children were aged between five and 10, and that sixth child, aged 13, has been taken to hospital in Birmingham for treatment. Two adults also suffered minor injuries.

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service have said: 'The investigation into the cause of the fire is at a very early stage and it would be wrong to speculate at this time.'

Although the woman has been arrested under suspicion of murder, police have said that this is because as the investigation unfolds it may become a murder case. Police have said that they will not name the family, but that they are well known in the area.

Sky News published both the father's name and a picture of him, which in turn has prompted recognition of a media storm that surrounded the family in 2006-2007. Mick Philpott, appeared in an interview with The Telegraph in 2006 where he claimed that he needed a new council house for his 15 children. He also appeared on appeared on the Jeremy Kyle show, under the title "Father to 15...Wife and girlfriend pregnant again!"

In 2007 politician Anne Widdecombe spent a week living with the then unemployed 57-year-old as part of ITV programme Ann Widdecombe Versus The Benefit Culture.

There has been an outpouring of condolences for the family on both Facebook and Twitter, including from local residents.

[Image shows Victory Road in Allenton]