Toddler dies in Doncaster house fire

The child, named locally as Libby Hambrey, lived at the terraced three-storey house with her mum Kelly and six-year-old brother Dylan.

She died last night after the blaze in an upstairs bedroom.

Today, neighbours and friends came to the leafy street in Conisbrough, near Doncaster, to leave floral tributes.

The cause of the fire is still unclear but one neighbour, who had been walking her dog when she saw emergency services outside the house, said Kelly had been out last night and a young teenager had been babysitting the children.

The woman, who did not want to be named, said: “I was finishing walking the dog last night, about 8pm.

“There was a young boy outside screaming, I don’t know what he was saying but he was screaming.

“I couldn’t see too much smoke but then they opened one of the windows upstairs and all this smoke came out. I’ve heard the fire may have been an accident.

“The neighbours phoned the ambulance. Then I saw the little girl being carried out of the house.

“The mum arrived home about 20 minutes after Libby had been taken away in an ambulance, she was obviously distraught.”

Another neighbour, Zoe Backhouse, said her daughter went to nursery with Libby.

She said: “It’s just devastating to think that Libby won’t be at nursery any more, and that her mum won’t be there because her little girl has died.

“Libby was a lovely little girl, she would always smile and wave at us when she walked past our house with her mum and Dylan on his way to school.

“I have no idea what happened, I was just coming home from bible study group when I saw all the ambulance and fire engines.

“It’s been an awful shock for everyone. I’m so sad for the family.”

A family member, who did not wish to be identified, said: “The family don’t want to say anything at the moment, we’re all very shocked and upset and want to come to terms with things before we speak.

“The other children in the house are all alright.

“Her mum is at home, she has been since she left the hospital last night. We’ve got an idea what happened but won’t be saying any more at this time. We just ask to be left alone.”

A statement from South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said two crews battled the fire.

“A team of firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the property and located the fire in an upstairs bedroom,” it said.

“A young child was rescued from the bedroom but sadly died.”

An investigation into the cause of the fire will begin today, it added.