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| Horses found dead in arson probe | Horses found dead in arson probe |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Three horses have been found dead in the grounds of the home of a family of three who remain unaccounted for following a suspected arson attack. | Three horses have been found dead in the grounds of the home of a family of three who remain unaccounted for following a suspected arson attack. |
| Christopher Foster, his wife Jillian and teenage daughter Kirsty, are missing after the Shropshire fire. | Christopher Foster, his wife Jillian and teenage daughter Kirsty, are missing after the Shropshire fire. |
| Police said two dogs had also gone missing from kennels at the property, Osbaston House, near Maesbrook. | Police said two dogs had also gone missing from kennels at the property, Osbaston House, near Maesbrook. |
| West Mercia Police said officers were unlikely to enter the house on Wednesday as the building is unsafe. | |
| It is not yet known if the missing family were in the house at the time of the fire, which began shortly after 0500 BST on Tuesday. | It is not yet known if the missing family were in the house at the time of the fire, which began shortly after 0500 BST on Tuesday. |
| Police have appealed for the family or anyone who may have seen them over the Bank Holiday weekend to get in touch urgently. | Police have appealed for the family or anyone who may have seen them over the Bank Holiday weekend to get in touch urgently. |
| Kirsty is a year 10 pupil at Ellesmere College, an independent school in Ellesmere, Shropshire. | Kirsty is a year 10 pupil at Ellesmere College, an independent school in Ellesmere, Shropshire. |
| 'Severe damage' | 'Severe damage' |
| Det Supt Jon Groves, of West Mercia Police, said a CCTV system was found at the property and would be examined over the coming days. | Det Supt Jon Groves, of West Mercia Police, said a CCTV system was found at the property and would be examined over the coming days. |
| He added: "The house, a garage and stable block and another outbuilding were severely damaged. | He added: "The house, a garage and stable block and another outbuilding were severely damaged. |
| "Two horses in the stable and another in the outbuilding have been found dead. Two dogs which we believe were in a kennel block are missing." | "Two horses in the stable and another in the outbuilding have been found dead. Two dogs which we believe were in a kennel block are missing." |
| Firefighters remained at the scene overnight to deal with hotspots, police said. | Firefighters remained at the scene overnight to deal with hotspots, police said. |
| The house, which has electronic gates, is situated off the road between Maesbrook and Knockin and police said the house was well alight when fire crews arrived. | The house, which has electronic gates, is situated off the road between Maesbrook and Knockin and police said the house was well alight when fire crews arrived. |
| Mr Groves, from the force's major incident unit, said: "A search will be carried out of the property to establish if anybody was inside as soon as the building is deemed to be safe." | Mr Groves, from the force's major incident unit, said: "A search will be carried out of the property to establish if anybody was inside as soon as the building is deemed to be safe." |
| 'Not seen' | 'Not seen' |
| He added that forensic investigations have been carried out at the scene and house-to-house inquiries would take place. | He added that forensic investigations have been carried out at the scene and house-to-house inquiries would take place. |
| About 80 officers and police personnel are involved in the investigation, which has been named Operation Feedback. | About 80 officers and police personnel are involved in the investigation, which has been named Operation Feedback. |
| Records from Companies House, which keeps official records of all companies in the UK, lists Mr Foster, as the director of Ulva Limited - a thermal insulation manufacturing company in Telford. | Records from Companies House, which keeps official records of all companies in the UK, lists Mr Foster, as the director of Ulva Limited - a thermal insulation manufacturing company in Telford. |
| The firm went into administration in August last year and a court order was issued in November for the company to be wound up. | The firm went into administration in August last year and a court order was issued in November for the company to be wound up. |
| Mrs Foster is listed as company secretary. | Mrs Foster is listed as company secretary. |
| Neighbours, who described the family as wealthy, have said the house's occupants kept themselves to themselves. | Neighbours, who described the family as wealthy, have said the house's occupants kept themselves to themselves. |
| Farmer David Hales, who has lived in the area for 46 years, said he had not seen the family in the village of Maesbrook and believed little was known of them. | Farmer David Hales, who has lived in the area for 46 years, said he had not seen the family in the village of Maesbrook and believed little was known of them. |
| "I have never seen them in the local pub or walking the dogs or the horses," he said. | "I have never seen them in the local pub or walking the dogs or the horses," he said. |
| Ann Morris, 38, who keeps horses at stables close to the Fosters' house, said she did not know them but had seen them out with their horse box and that there were always horses in the field. | Ann Morris, 38, who keeps horses at stables close to the Fosters' house, said she did not know them but had seen them out with their horse box and that there were always horses in the field. |
| John Kirkham, 81, said they had lived at the house for about four years. | John Kirkham, 81, said they had lived at the house for about four years. |
| "I don't know them at all. They keep themselves to themselves," he added. | "I don't know them at all. They keep themselves to themselves," he added. |