AN operation on an 18-month-old girl who suffered severe burns in a fire which killed her mother, aunt and uncle has been successful.

Police said the baby was shielded from the intense heat by one of the two women as the terrace house in Pelham Street, Middlesbrough burned around the family.

Parents, passers-by, police officers and firefighters made desperate attempts to rescue the 18-year-old youth and his sisters, aged 22 and 27.

However only the youngster, who is the daughter of the 27-year-old who died, was brought out alive after the fire in the early hours of Saturday.

The baby underwent skin graft surgery at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, in Newcastle, on Sunday night after she received 31 per cent burns.

Police said yesterday that she was "doing well" after surgeons managed to graft skin on to 20 per cent of the burned area of her body.

Yesterday, friends and neighbours continued to leave flowers at a growing tribute on the house doorstep.

One read: "Goodnight and God bless to Gail, Joanne and Lee from Aunty Angie and Uncle Kevin." Another said simply: "Sleep tight."

Another friend, who wished to remain anonymous, paused with her own children at the house after taking flowers. She said: "I know the police are trying to piece together what happened but whether they do or not it won't bring them back. It is just so sad."

Detective Inspector Peter Jones, of Cleveland Police, said: "Family members are keeping a vigil at the hospital. Thankfully, it would seem the youngster is beginning the long fight back to health with the success of her first operation."

The two women and the baby were found in a first-floor bedroom of the house. The 18-year-old was in the loft.

The parents of those who died were downstairs and escaped the flames. Yesterday, the grandmother returned to the scene but was too upset to comment.

The alarm was raised when two passers-by and two police officers were passing by just after 3.30am.

However, every time they entered they were beaten back by the intense heat.

Police said that inquiries were continuing into the cause, and formal identification of those who died still had to be confirmed.