WESTBURY Road in Bradford remains closed this morning, with a sea of floral tributes left in memory of a woman and three children who died in a house fire.

Mourners began placing flowers and balloons at the top of the road yesterday.

Emergency services were called to the scene, off Cooper Lane in the BD6 area of the city, at around 2am on Wednesday. 

Speaking at the scene on Wednesday, Superintendent Lucy Leadbeater, of Bradford District Police, said: “Shortly after 2am yesterday, officers were called to a report of a house fire on Westbury Road in Bradford.

“On officers' arrival, it was confirmed that a 29-year-old woman named Bryonie Gawith had died at the scene.

"Her three children, nine-year-old Denisty Birtle, five-year-old Oscar Birtle and 22-month-old Aubree Birtle, were taken to hospital where sadly all three died from their injuries.

“Detectives from our Homicide and Major Enquiry Team have launched a murder investigation into the fire."

West Yorkshire Police said they believe the incident was domestic-related.

They said a 39-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is currently in a critical condition in hospital.

A number of floral tributes and balloons in memory of Bryonie, Denisty, Oscar, and Aubree have been placed at the top of the road, which remains closed this morning.

A traffic alert this morning reported: "Westbury Road both ways closed due to earlier building fire between B6147 Cooper Lane and Mandale Road. Closed since the early hours of Wednesday morning."