DETECTIVES investigating a fatal house fire in which a young girl and her father died have launched a murder probe.

Philip Braithwaite, 49, and his daughter, Jessica, seven, died after they were trapped in their semi-detached house in Hawthorn Road, Redcar, shortly after 11pm on Monday.

"A range of enquiries are ongoing including house and vehicle searches, gathering witness interviews, analysing CCTV footage and undertaking forensic tests," a spokeswoman for Cleveland Police said.

"The enquiry team is awaiting detailed fire investigation reports; however enquiries carried out to date indicate that the fire may have been caused by a deliberate ignition in the front lounge of the address.

"This resulted in the fire spreading quickly through the house tragically resulting in the deaths of Philip Braithwaite, age 49, and Jessica Braithwaite, age seven, who were on the first floor of the address."

Nine-year-old Catriona Braithwaite remains critical, but stable in intensive care and the children’s mother, a 51-year-old woman is assisting police with witness statements.

"Police can confirm that they are not looking for anybody else in connection with the incident," the spokeswoman said.

Detective Sergeant Paul Husband said: “I would like to thank members of the public who have assisted us with this investigation so far. Our thoughts are constantly with the family, this has been such a tragic and heart wrenching event.”

Anyone with any information is asked to call Cleveland Police on 01642-326326.