Police and fire investigators are keeping an "open mind" to the cause of a house blaze which killed five members of a family, including three children.

Rumours are spreading amongst local residents in Hounslow that the fire may have been caused by fireworks or candles lit to celebrate the Hindu festival of light, Diwali.

Police have confirmed that another person remains unaccounted for, whilst a man left the property before fire crews arrived and was taken to hospital.

Chief Superintendent Sean Wilson, who is responsible for policing in the area, said officers were not ruling anything out of their investigations into the cause.

Speaking at a press conference this morning, he confirmed that three children were among the five family members confirmed to have died in the incident.

Ch Supt Wilson, flanked by London Fire Brigade's Deputy Commissioner Jonathan Smith, explained that the fire was reported around 10:30pm last night (Sunday) when many families were celebrating Diwali.

He said: "We are here to talk about the very tragic that happened last night.

"Despite the life-saving efforts of all those attending, I am very sorry to inform you all that five people have lost their lives in this fire.

"Sadly, at least three of those were children. I know that people across the country will be shocked and saddened by these events last night.

"We will be working tirelessly with our colleagues to provide answers. At this time we have an open mind as to the cause of the fire."

Sunny Kapoor, a local living just a few streets away from Channel Close where the fire occurred, said he had heard rumours that it could have been caused by fireworks.

Residents gathered in Channel Close, Hounslow as investigations into the cause of fire that killed a family of five continues (credit: SWNS).

One of the 51-year-old's friends lives on the road, and Mr Kapoor had left work to go to the scene and ensure his friend was not one of the five people who died.

The delivery driver and father of three said: "I just heard about it this morning on the news. I have to find out if my friend is okay."

As to the cause of the fire, he added: "It could be anything, but it could be fireworks. There is so much bad happening in London now."

Rajinder Khurana, a father-of-three who lives on Channel Close, says he and his wife were at a Diwali party elsewhere, and arrived home in the early hours to find their road closed off.

He added they did not know the family who lived at the burned-down house.

"We were not at home," he said. "We were at a Diwali party. We came back about 3am or 4am and everything was closed.

"I have been living here for 13 years and have never seen anything like this. We don't know the family, but of course it is shocking."

Nick, who has lived just off Channel Close for half a century, said he wouldn't be surprised if Diwali celebrations were behind the cause of the fire, due to the large amounts of fireworks he saw and heard last night.

"It's a tragic loss of life," Nick, who didn't wish to give his surname, said.

"Nobody wants to see this happening. The fire service were here very promptly. It was noisy with the amount of fireworks.

"I was trying to watch Strictly Come Dancing and all of these fireworks were going off.

"On November 5 there were no fireworks. It's a natural assumption that it was something to do with Diwali.

"You would expect it to be something to do with Diwali."

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