A MAN who was badly injured in a blaze which claimed the lives of his two young daughters was yesterday in a "critical but stable condition".

John Spence, 37, suffered serious burns as he fought to rescue his daughters, Tatum, 14, and Jade, 12, from their burning home in Lisle Road, Harton, South Shields, last week.

A 17-year-old male, who was arrested on suspicion of murder, has been released on bail while investigations into the double tragedy continue.

The girls' mother, Anita Spence, 37, who was also injured in the blaze, returned to the house last week to look at the hundreds of floral tributes and soft toys left in memory of her daughters.

Post-mortem examinations carried out on the two girls found they died from smoke inhalation. Both were pupils at nearby Harton Technology College.

Mr Spence, who was a doorman at several city centre pubs in Sunderland, has remained in a critical condition since the fire.

But yesterday, a spokesman at Northumbria Police confirmed that while Mr Spence's condition was still critical he was now stable. Tributes are still being left outside the family's home, including a message from Mr Spence's friends saying: "The whole of the door staff network are thinking of the whole family and praying for John. Sleep tight angels."

Detective Chief Inspector Mick Paterson, who is leading the investigation into the blaze and the death of the two girls, has repeated his appeal for any witnesses who may have been in the area at about 1am last Wednesday to come forward.

He has also asked for anyone with information "no matter how small or insignificant people think it may be" to contact the police at the incident room at South Shields police station on 0845-60-43-043 ext 66311 or Crimestoppers, on 0800-555111.