A 23-year-old man has denied murdering a seven-year-old girl and her aunt in a house fire.

Valentina Foster and her aunt Natalie McDonald, 34, were killed in a blaze in Grangetown, near Middlesbrough, on August 26, while two adults and two teenagers were injured.

Jaden Wright pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder at Teesside Crown Court when he appeared by video link from prison on Wednesday.

Valentina Foster and Natalie McDonald died in the house fire in Middlesbrough. | Cleveland Police

placeholder image — Valentina Foster and Natalie McDonald died in the house fire in Middlesbrough. | Cleveland Police

Wright also denied two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent, and two counts of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent.

The defendant also pleaded not guilty to causing a woman grievous bodily harm and intentional strangulation, relating to an alleged incident on August 25.

Wright sat behind a desk at prison for the 10-minute hearing, wearing a grey sweatshirt.

He was told he will go on trial on April 19.

Wright was remanded in custody by Judge Francis Laird KC ahead of a further hearing on December 18.