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Arson attack house still 'unsafe' Arson attack house still 'unsafe'
(30 minutes later)
Police are planning to enter the gutted home of a missing family following an apparent arson attack. Police plan to enter the gutted home of a missing family following an arson attack within the next 24 hours.
Christopher Foster, 50, wife Jillian, 49, and daughter Kirstie, 15, have not been seen since Tuesday's fire at the mansion near Maesbrook in Shropshire.Christopher Foster, 50, wife Jillian, 49, and daughter Kirstie, 15, have not been seen since Tuesday's fire at the mansion near Maesbrook in Shropshire.
Three horses have been found dead in the stable block, which was gutted. Two dogs are missing from the kennels.Three horses have been found dead in the stable block, which was gutted. Two dogs are missing from the kennels.
Officers have been unable to enter the house due to the fire's severity, and are waiting for it to be declared safe.Officers have been unable to enter the house due to the fire's severity, and are waiting for it to be declared safe.
'Painstaking work'
It is not yet known if the missing family were in the £1.2m property, called Osbaston House, at the time of the fire, which began shortly after 0500 BST.It is not yet known if the missing family were in the £1.2m property, called Osbaston House, at the time of the fire, which began shortly after 0500 BST.
A search will be carried out of the property to establish if anybody was inside as soon as the building is deemed to be safe Det Supt Jon Groves Police said they were "following every line of enquiry" to trace the family.
Superintendent Gary Higgins, from West Mercia Constabulary, said: "A lot of work has been done by the fire service overnight to damp it down and reduce the temperature enough for work to stabilise the structure to begin and make it safe to enter.
"Once it has been deemed safe, which we are hoping will be either this evening or tomorrow, specialist search teams and forensic experts will go in."
Forensic teams are working around the outskirts of the house
He added that even when officers had access to the house, the search could potentially take "several days".
He said: "Until we can enter the property, we do not know whether the family was inside at the time of the fire, which we believe was started deliberately."
He said the debris inside the house would have to be "painstakingly sifted through and examined".
Officers have already carried out searches at the outhouses belonging to the property, he added.
Companies House lists Mr Foster as the director of Ulva Limited - a thermal insulation manufacturing company in Telford. Mrs Foster is listed as company secretary.Companies House lists Mr Foster as the director of Ulva Limited - a thermal insulation manufacturing company in Telford. Mrs Foster is listed as company secretary.
The firm went into administration in August last year and a court order was issued in November for the company to be wound up.The firm went into administration in August last year and a court order was issued in November for the company to be wound up.
Mr Foster was also the alleged victim of a blackmail - but two men were cleared of attempting to blackmail him into giving them £100,000 at Shrewsbury Crown Court in November 2006.Mr Foster was also the alleged victim of a blackmail - but two men were cleared of attempting to blackmail him into giving them £100,000 at Shrewsbury Crown Court in November 2006.
Police have circulated an all-ports warning to be on the lookout for the family.Police have circulated an all-ports warning to be on the lookout for the family.
They have also appealed for the family or anyone who may have seen them over the Bank Holiday weekend to get in touch urgently.They have also appealed for the family or anyone who may have seen them over the Bank Holiday weekend to get in touch urgently.
Insp Clive Eastwood, of West Mercia Police, said officers had been speaking to friends and relatives of the family in an effort to trace their last known movements. 'Beyond comprehension'
Forensic teams are working around the outskirts of the house
Kirstie is a year 10 pupil at Ellesmere College, an independent school in Ellesmere, Shropshire.Kirstie is a year 10 pupil at Ellesmere College, an independent school in Ellesmere, Shropshire.
Det Supt Jon Groves, of West Mercia Police, said a CCTV system had been found at the property and would be examined over the coming days. Detectives a CCTV system had been found at the property and would be examined over the coming days.
He said: "The house, a garage and stable block and another outbuilding were severely damaged.
"Two horses in the stable and another in the outbuilding have been found dead. Two dogs which we believe were in a kennel block are missing."
The house, which has electronic gates, is situated off the road between Maesbrook and Knockin. Police said it was well alight when fire crews arrived.The house, which has electronic gates, is situated off the road between Maesbrook and Knockin. Police said it was well alight when fire crews arrived.
Mr Groves, from the force's major incident unit, said: "A search will be carried out of the property to establish if anybody was inside as soon as the building is deemed to be safe."
About 80 officers and police personnel are involved in the investigation, which has been named Operation Feedback.About 80 officers and police personnel are involved in the investigation, which has been named Operation Feedback.
Neighbours have said the house's occupants kept themselves to themselves.Neighbours have said the house's occupants kept themselves to themselves.
One neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, told the BBC: "Chris had many cars, the Ferrari, a Range Rover for going out shooting. Jill had another Range Rover.One neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, told the BBC: "Chris had many cars, the Ferrari, a Range Rover for going out shooting. Jill had another Range Rover.
"They were always extremely friendly... I just honestly don't know. Is he away on holiday? Is he local? Is he in the house? It's beyond comprehension.""They were always extremely friendly... I just honestly don't know. Is he away on holiday? Is he local? Is he in the house? It's beyond comprehension."