More time to quiz trio over death

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Police have been given an extra 30 hours to question three teenagers arrested on suspicion of murdering a 59-year-old woman in Cornwall.

Mother-of-nine Mary Fox, of Wallace Road, Bodmin, died in a fire last Thursday evening after a firework was pushed through her letterbox.

An 18-year-old man and two 17-year-old youths from the Bodmin area arrested on Monday remain in custody.

Ms Fox's 17-year-old son, Raum, escaped from the property and raised the alarm.

The remnants of a firework were found behind the front door of Ms Fox's house.

Police have played down reports from neighbours that Ms Fox's son had mild learning disabilities and may have been harassed by local youths.

Raum Fox alerted neighbours that his mother was inside the burning house

Officers said the Fox family had made no complaints about harassment and there was no obvious evidence of intimidation or bullying to either Ms Fox or her son and that such suggestions were "purely speculation" and "unfounded".

Officers stepped up patrols on the Berryfields estate where Ms Fox and her son lived and carried out door-to-door inquiries over the weekend.

Det Ch Insp Paul Burgan said officers were "investigating some positive leads from the community in Bodmin".

Detectives have stressed that, despite the arrests, they are still in the early stages of the investigation and are continuing to appeal for people with any information to contact them.

Ms Fox, who was described by her family as a "loving, caring and self-sacrificing woman", is believed to have gone back to rescue her cat after helping her son escape.

The arrested teenagers are in custody at Launceston police station.