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| Two held after fatal arson attack | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A 37-year-old man has died in an arson attack on his house from which his wife and three children managed to escape. | |
| Fire crews found Richard Perkins dead in a bedroom of the terraced home on the Pound Bank estate, Malvern, at about 0130 BST. | Fire crews found Richard Perkins dead in a bedroom of the terraced home on the Pound Bank estate, Malvern, at about 0130 BST. |
| His family, who fled by breaking windows, suffered smoke inhalation. The "severe and intense" fire was tackled by 30 firefighters for an hour. | His family, who fled by breaking windows, suffered smoke inhalation. The "severe and intense" fire was tackled by 30 firefighters for an hour. |
| A man and a youth have been arrested in connection with the blaze. | |
| 'Wife screaming' | 'Wife screaming' |
| Neighbours said they were woken in the early hours by the screams of the family inside the house. | Neighbours said they were woken in the early hours by the screams of the family inside the house. |
| Mandy Harris, who lives next door, said: "I ran outside into the street, rang the fire brigade and (Mr Perkins' wife) was actually screaming through the window at this time. | Mandy Harris, who lives next door, said: "I ran outside into the street, rang the fire brigade and (Mr Perkins' wife) was actually screaming through the window at this time. |
| He wouldn't hurt anything or hurt anybody James Loveridge, Mr Perkins' brother-in-law | He wouldn't hurt anything or hurt anybody James Loveridge, Mr Perkins' brother-in-law |
| "A friend of mine ran round the back with the hosepipe and tried to put the porch out. | "A friend of mine ran round the back with the hosepipe and tried to put the porch out. |
| "I was scared to death to be honest. I was shaking like a leaf, I thought they were all going to die to be honest." | "I was scared to death to be honest. I was shaking like a leaf, I thought they were all going to die to be honest." |
| James Loveridge said his brother-in-law Mr Perkins "wouldn't hurt a fly". | James Loveridge said his brother-in-law Mr Perkins "wouldn't hurt a fly". |
| "He wouldn't hurt anything or hurt anybody. | "He wouldn't hurt anything or hurt anybody. |
| "He was one of those people who just sailed through life, tried to make the best of everything he had." | "He was one of those people who just sailed through life, tried to make the best of everything he had." |
| Fire crews said the fire was so severe that flames were coming through the windows and there was a risk that the blaze would spread to the neighbouring terraced houses. | Fire crews said the fire was so severe that flames were coming through the windows and there was a risk that the blaze would spread to the neighbouring terraced houses. |
| Witness appeal | |
| Crews from Worcester, Malvern and Upton-upon-Severn went to the scene. | |
| Kevin Taylor, who lives nearby, said: "You could hear the crackling, obviously from the house being burnt. | Kevin Taylor, who lives nearby, said: "You could hear the crackling, obviously from the house being burnt. |
| "The fire brigade was on the scene all night, they never left, just in case it started up again." | "The fire brigade was on the scene all night, they never left, just in case it started up again." |
| Det Supt Andy Rowsell, of West Mercia Police, said: "We are in the early stages of this major investigation and we would like to hear from anyone who has information which they think may be useful to the inquiry. | |
| "We are urging anyone who was in the area of The Glade between 9.30pm last night and 2am today to get in touch as soon as possible." | |
| Anyone with information can contact police direct or anonymously via Crimestoppers. |