Deadly house fire 'caused by freezer'

A house blaze that killed five children and their mother was probably caused by a freezer, London Fire Brigade said today.

Muna Elmufatish, 41, died with her daughters Hanin, 14, Basma, 13, and Amal, nine, and sons Mustafa, five, and Yehya, two, in the fire at their home in Neasden in the early hours of Saturday. The children's father Bassam Kua, 51, and 16-year-old sister Nur survived.

London Fire Brigade said the worst house blaze in more than a decade was probably started by a chest freezer stored in a hall at the bottom of the stairs.

An inquest at Barnet coroner's court was opened and adjourned today until February. Coroner's officer Rebecca Smith broke down in tears as she listed the details of the dead children.

The fire brigade is to launch a safety campaign across the capital in the wake of the deaths.

Officers will write to every headteacher in London with fire safety advice, while every primary school will be offered a visit, a spokesman said.

The campaign will be supported by a Facebook page called Share it to Save a Life, which will encourage people to share fire safety tips.