Blaze mum still doesn't know her three children have died

Samantha Hudson remains in a critical but stable condition following the blaze that destroyed their home and claimed the lives of her children Maddie Hudson, three, Anthony (AJ) Hudson, five, and nine-year-old William Beale.

The 27-year-old is under sedation in an intensive care unit at Scarborough Hospital and has yet to be informed of her loss. Her condition was last described as critical but stable.

Her parents, Robert and Sharon Hudson, who live close to the scene of the tragedy, said in a statement: "We are unbelievably distraught with what has happened. Heartbroken is an understatement.

"We literally have had our hearts broken three times and now our daughter is critically ill in hospital.

"We just do not know how we will cope, which one of our grandchildren to grieve for first. How do we carry on and move on from this in order to help our daughter?

"We are terrified how Sam will react and how she will come to terms with the devastating news."

The couple also revealed that the fire which tore through Ms Hudson's home in Clarence Avenue, Bridlington, late last Thursday happened on the birthday of their youngest daughter, Hayley.

They had visited the house hours earlier for a family gathering to celebrate.

"From that day we made some amazing memories but we just cannot believe those will be our last memories of us all together," they added.

"You would never think that would be the last time you see your grandchildren and that thought is tearing us apart."

They also paid tribute to each grandchild they lost.

The couple said Maddie was a "bright little spark" who had just started nursery and had asked her mother to buy her the full school uniform so she would look like her brothers.

"Maddie was a double of her mum when she was a little girl, an absolute

treasure," they added.

The Hudsons said Anthony had a love of cars and motorcycles like his father, who was a mechanic.

"AJ had so many friends at school and was doing really well, we are all so pleased with him," the couple said.

They said William was "very lovable" with an inquisitive mind and had an interest in dinosaurs and insects.

All three children went to Hilderthorpe Primary School, where their friends were informed of the tragedy in an assembly the next morning.

The Hudsons said the three were very close and were doted on by their mother. "They were her world," they said.

Ms Hudson's neighbours in Clarence Avenue, a quiet cul-de-sac, had

raised the alarm just before midnight after hearing a loud "bang" and seeing and smoke and flames pouring from the three-storey property.

They were repeatedly beaten back by the severity of the blaze as they attempted to rescue the family.

Residents, still dressed in their nightclothes, and the emergency services then fought in vain to revive the children in the street after they were pulled from their home by firefighters. They had looked, neighbour Lesley Salisbury, a nurse, said last week, like "little rag dolls".

The Hudsons paid tribute to them all for their efforts.

They said: "We would like to thank all the neighbours who tried to help our Samantha and her children on the night.

"The whole of Bridlington has been affected by our loss and we cannot believe how many people this has touched across the world.

"We would like to extend our gratitude to the well-wishers from all over and we will use all your kind words to encourage our daughter to make a recovery."

Mrs Hudson added: "I have no words to describe how we are feeling. Sam is one of five children. The rest of the family are in shock, my husband is still in denial and I know the pain of our loss will never stop hurting.

"All we can do now is pray and support Samantha."

Police and fire investigators have launched an inquiry to try to establish the cause of the blaze, although it is not thought to have been started deliberately.

The fire, which gutted the property, is believed to have begun in the ground-floor living room, trapping the family upstairs.