Injured blaze mother finally told her children are dead

William Beal, nine, Anthony Hudson, also known as "AJ", five, and their three-year-old sister, Maddie Hudson, died when a ferocious blaze tore through their home in Clarence Avenue, Bridlington, on November 11.

Their mother, Samantha Hudson, 27, who suffered severe smoke inhalation and remains in hospital, has begun to improve but is still unable to speak or feed herself.

Her mother, Sharon Hudson, told the Yorkshire Post: "We have mentioned the children to her. We're not absolutely sure she understands but we believe she's remembering something.

"She's in and out. She's awake but sometimes she remembers stuff and sometimes she doesn't. She did get quite upset. We do believe that she knows that they've gone."

She added: "She's more upset now. She gets quite emotional and when she starts there's no stopping her."

Miss Hudson's father Rob said he believes her increased emotional reaction shows she does comprehend the tragedy.

"We believe that she knows, that she's cognitive" he said. "When she cries it's not like sobs now, you can hear her crying."

Staff are closely monitoring Miss Hudson and it is hoped she may soon be well enough to be transferred to a rehabilitation centre in Goole.

Mr Hudson said it was too early to say whether his daughter would make a full recovery, but he was encouraged by her recent progress.

He said: "Hopefully she'll be able to speak eventually. She's gone from lying on the bed to supporting her herself while she's being pushed around hospital in a wheelchair.

"That's a big, massive step but we don't know what the future will hold."

Mrs Hudson said the family were still struggling to cope with what had happened.

"It's really difficult because we are still grieving for all of them," she said. "It's still there, it's still raw, it will never go away."

Fire crews and police were called to the house at 11.58pm after neighbours reported hearing a "bang" and saw thick smoke streaming from the mid-terrace, three-storey property.

Firefighters later described the blaze and the conditions in the house as among the most difficult they have encountered.

Neighbours and the emergency services fought in vain to revive the children in the street after they were pulled from the building, with one describing them as being "like little rag dolls". They died in Scarborough Hospital a short time later.

The children were buried three weeks later after an emotional funeral at Emmanuel Parish Church.

A joint investigation by police and firefighters found the blaze was probably caused by a discarded cigarette.