The mother and father of six children who died in a house fire in Derby have been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Mick Philpott, 55, and his wife Mairead, 31, were arrested in Derby on Tuesday and are due to be questioned.

Jade Philpott, 10, and brothers John, nine, Jack, eight, Jessie, six and Jayden, five, died in the house fire on Victory Road on 11 May.

Another brother, Duwayne, 13, died three days later in hospital.

All six children were asleep upstairs when the fire began in the early hours.

Derbyshire Police said petrol was used to start the fire which was believed to have originated below the home's letterbox.

'Vital' information

Five days after the attack Mr and Mrs Philpott held a brief press conference and thanked those who tried to rescue the children and members of the local community for their support.

Speaking after the arrests, Assistant Chief Constable Steve Cotterill said: "In view of the arrests, I would urge anyone who may have been holding back, not felt comfortable to voice their concerns or not had the confidence, to do so now.

"The latest arrests are just one step further in the investigation. It is absolutely vital that if you know anything you think could help us, come forward now, do not wait any longer.

"What we need to do now is carefully take our time, question the two individuals concerned and piece it together with everything else we know to date."

ACC Cotterill added police had increased their presence again on Victory Road and a mobile police station would return to the area.

The family attracted attention in 2006 when Mr Philpott asked the council for a larger house to accommodate his wife, girlfriend and 14 children.

In 2007, former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe spent a week living with the family as part of an ITV documentary and Mr Philpott also appeared on the Jeremy Kyle Show.

On 11 May, a 38-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of murder. They were both released without charge the following day.

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