Police to enter blaze home of missing millionaire

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The home of Christopher Foster, 50, his wife Jill, 49, and daughter Kirstie, 15, in Maesbrook near Oswestry, was devastated in a suspected arson attack on Tuesday morning. The family has been missing since the the fire.

It took fire crews several hours to control the blaze and police and fire investigators have not yet been able to get inside Osbaston House.

West Mercia Constabulary refused to comment on rumours that bullet cartridges and pools of blood have been found at the £1.2million house or that Mr Foster shot his family before boarding himself in the house and setting fire to it.

A police spokesman said: "There is a lot of speculation going on. When we are able to, we will issue facts."

Firefighters worked through Tuesday night damping down the building and lowering the temperature so structural experts could begin to stabilise the house.

Superintendent Gary Higgins said: "Until we can enter the property, we do not know whether the family was inside at the time of the fire, which we believe was started deliberately.

"This is being treated as arson and, until we can determine whether the family was inside, it will remain arson.