TWO young boys have been arrested on suspicion of arson after the door of a family home was set alight.

Youngsters aged 11 and 12 were questioned after fire broke out at Delaval in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, shortly after 4pm on Tuesday.

Single mother Nichola Stones, 30, ran back into her home to save her two babies after making sure her five-year-old son, Aston, was safely outside.

The nursery nurse braved the smoke to rescue 16-month-old Amelia and little Isaac, who is just 20 weeks old.

Her neighbour David Smith, who lives opposite, tackled the flames with a fire extinguisher before firefighters arrived and his wife, Rita, help comfort the children.

No-one was injured, but Ms Stones and her eldest son were very shaken by the experience and fears they could have been killed.

County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service and Durham Constabulary launched a joint investigation to determine the cause of the blaze and the circumstances surrounding it.

A police spokesman said: “Two boys, aged 11 and 12, have been arrested on suspicion of arson and have been bailed until the end of March.”

  • Anyone with information can call the force non-emergency number on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555111.