A murder investigation is under way after a boy died in a house fire in the early hours of this morning.

Shortly before 1am this morning, fire crews were called to a house in Mordey Close, in the Hendon area of Sunderland.

Police confirmed this morning that a boy had died in the fire and a woman, believed to be his mother, was in a critical condition in Newcastle General Hospital after leaping from an upstairs window to escape the flames.

Police and fire service investigators are at the scene this morning, but police have confirmed they are treating the fire as suspicious.