THIS is the tragic mother and her two children who died in a mysterious car fire in the North-East.

Police were last night trying to piece together the final movements of Nabeala Hussain, 23, who was found in her Vauxhall Astra in Walpole Street, Middlesbrough, on Thursday afternoon.

In the back of the car were her two children, Danial Pervez, three, and his one-year-old sister, Salia Mariam.

A fire was burning in the passenger footwell and the engine had been left running.

Despite frantic efforts by emergency services to save the family, Mrs Hussain, of Gresham Road, Middlesbrough, died at the scene.

Danial and Salia were pronounced dead soon after arrival at Middlesbrough General Hospital.

Post-mortem examinations revealed that all three died of smoke inhalation.

Police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the tragedy but cannot say whether Mrs Hussain took her own life.

Her husband, Pervez Aktar, 30, a food production worker, was too devastated to speak about the tragedy, and the news has stunned neighbours and the wider Asian community in the town.

"I can't understand why she would do anything like this because it just doesn't make any sense," said Abdul Farooq, 38, who saw Mrs Hussain before he left for work on Thursday at about 12pm.

"I find it difficult to believe that I saw her in the street yesterday and today she is not with us any more," he said.

"I don't know how her husband will cope because he doted on his family and they kept themselves to themselves. It really is most tragic."

"They were a lovely couple and she was such a devoted mother."

Detective Inspector Karnil Dulku, who is heading the investigation into the deaths, wants anyone who saw Mrs Hussain between 1pm and 4.30pm to contact him.

He has not ruled out suicide. "Anyone with children will find it hard to understand why she would do that, but if that is what has happened she must have been very distressed indeed," said Det Insp Dulku.

"It is essential that anyone who saw her comes forward to tell us what they know so we can establish exactly what happened."

Asian community leader and former chairman of Middlesbrough Mosque Mobeen Mehdi is a distant relative of the family.

"It has obviously come as major shock to me and I know the whole community is very concerned," said Mr Mehdi.

"I know the family very well and they come from a small close knit community who are all distraught.

"They are a very nice family in every respect and are well liked by everybody."

Inquests into the three deaths are expected to be opened next week and anyone with information should call Middlesbrough Police on (01642) 303126