Five-year-old boy dies after house fire in Rothwell

A five year old boy has died in a house fire in Rothwell.

Fire crews were called to Second Avenue at around 8:30 last night (11th February), where 5-year-old Alex Clark was seriously injured. The blaze is thought to have taken hold upstairs.

He'd been receiving emergency treatment at a hospital in Manchester following the blaze, but sadly died this afternoon.

His mum, brother and sister were at the house at the time but managed to escape unharmed.

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue say two members of the public tried to get into the house but were fought back by the heat and smoke. They were checked over by paramedics at the scene.

Officers say that smoke alarms were fitted and working.

An investigation is ongoing to establish the cause of the fire, while the family are receiving specialist support