A FIRE which has left a young child in hospital with serious injuries may not have been deliberate, police have said.

Fire ripped through a house in Esk Road, Darlington, on Saturday afternoon, trapping a seven-year-old girl inside before she was rescued by firefighters.

A joint police and fire investigation is underway into the cause of the blaze.

The girl's four-year-old brother and a family friend escaped without injury but the girl is in Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary in a critical condition.

The Northern Echo understands that the girl's older brother was also in the house until just before the fire took hold.

Last night Detective Inspector Andy Reynolds said he wanted to reassure the community that it was an isolated incident.

He said: "Our early inquiries would suggest that this was not a deliberate act but the investigation into the cause of the fire is continuing.

"Our thoughts are with the young girl in hospital."

Neighbours spoke yesterday of attempts to rescue the girl before the fire brigade arrived, but were pushed back by the 'acrid' smoke.

A 16-year-old boy was arrested on Saturday but has now been released under investigation.