Family mourn 'deeply loved' girl killed in Middlesbrough fire
A seven-year-old girl and her aunt have died following a house fire in Grangetown, Middlesbrough. A 23-year-old man has been charged with their murders as the local community and family mourn the loss.
Why it matters
This tragic event has deeply affected the local community and triggered a significant criminal investigation involving multiple charges.
Image source, Handout Image caption, Valentina Foster died alongside her aunt in a house fire in Grangetown
The family of a seven-year-old girl killed in a house fire said their lives had been changed forever by her "devastating loss".
Valentina Foster died alongside her aunt Natalie McDonald, 34, in the blaze at Grangetown, near Middlesbrough, in the early hours of 26 August. A man has been charged with their murders.
In a tribute, the youngster's parents said their daughter would "always be in our hearts, and her memory will live with us forever".
"She was deeply loved and will be missed beyond words by her family, friends, and everyone whose life she touched," they said.
"Our lives have changed forever, and we are struggling to come to terms with this devastating loss."
They added she would be "forever missed" by her brothers and sisters.
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