House blaze girls fighting for life

The two teenage sisters and their two friends, believed to be aged 13 and 14, are described as "critical" in a hospital burns unit.

Initial reports suggested that at least one of the girls had received 40% burns in the blaze.

More details of their conditions are expected to be released later.

An exploding gas canister is reported to have triggered a violent blaze which ripped through the home in Llanelli, south Wales, at 3pm on Monday.

Dyfed Powys Police said they were not treating the blaze as suspicious. A joint investigation with the fire brigade is due to start.

The local community has spoken of its shock at the fire at the mid-terraced home in Old Castle Road.

Neighbours living on either side of the property were forced to evacuate as fire spread to the roofs of both homes.

Gertrude Vestuti, who lives in the street, said: "It is shocking. I am shaking - it's too much for me to talk about it."

And town councillor John Jenkins said: "Obviously, it is never a good time, but coming so close to Christmas makes it worse."