Four killed as intense fire burns through Merseyside house

Four people have died after an intense fire tore through a semi-detached house in Bootle, Merseyside, early in the morning.

• Crews arrived at the blaze on Stone Square at about 3.45am, roughly 15 minutes after the fire control room received a 999 call.
• Chief fire officer Nick Searle said the fire was "intense" and spread very rapidly, killing four people inside the house.
• Searle said another person was taken to hospital; the fire service said six fire engines attended and eight firefighters entered the property.
• Searle said a joint investigation with Merseyside police will determine the cause of the fire.