TWO people were arrested yesterday in connection with the death of a schoolboy after a house fire.

Dean Pike died following the late-night blaze at his home Mordey Close, Deerness Park, Sunderland, on June 24.

A 19-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson, and a 40-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder. Both are from Sunderland.

Neil English, 42, of Chester Road, Sunderland, has already been charged with Dean's murder and the attempted murder of his pregnant mother, Janine Dodd.

Mrs Dodd, 29, jumped from a first-floor window to escape the blaze but rescue crews were unable to save Dean.