Woman who died in fire with niece, 7, was 'beautiful soul', mother tells BBC
A 34-year-old woman and her seven-year-old niece died in a house fire in Grangetown, Middlesbrough. Two men have been arrested on suspicion of murder as police continue their investigation into the blaze.
Why it matters
This is a tragic local crime event that has prompted a significant police investigation and community mourning.
Image source, Supplied Image caption, The family of Natalie McDonald and her niece Valentina Foster have paid tribute to them
A woman killed in a house fire has been described by her mother as "a beautiful soul, who would have done anything for anybody".
Natalie McDonald, 34, died along with her seven-year-old niece, Valentina Foster, in the blaze in Grangetown, near Middlesbrough, in the early hours of Wednesday.
Cleveland Police said the fire had also left a 48-year-old woman in a critical condition in hospital alongside another three people who suffered non-life threatening injuries.
Two men, aged 23 and 31, had been arrested on suspicion of murder and were in police custody, the force said.
Lisa Kirton, Natalie's mother, told the BBC her daughter was "lovely, bright and bubbly" and "everybody loved her".
She said Valentina, also known as Tina, had been spending the summer holidays with the family.
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