This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/coventry_warwickshire/8542786.stm

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Fatal fire being treated as arson Double fatal fire was 'homicide'
(about 8 hours later)
A fire which claimed the lives of two elderly people in Warwickshire is being treated as arson. A fire which claimed the lives of two people living in sheltered housing is being treated by police as homicide - murder or manslaughter.
The man and woman, both aged 77, died following the fire which broke out in the early hours of Saturday at Harold Cox Place, Rugby. The man and woman, both aged 77, died following the fire which broke out in the early hours of Saturday at Harold Cox Place, Rugby, Warwickshire.
Police are also investigating a second suspicious fire at the same location early on Monday which they believe may be linked to the first fire. A second fire at the same place early on Monday is also thought to be arson.
Nobody was injured in the latest arson attack but two flats were evacuated. Police said they had no evidence to link the attacks to rumoured antisocial behaviour.
Det Con Insp James Essex said: "Although there has been speculation about the incident being linked to antisocial behaviour in the area, at this stage we have no evidence to substantiate that."
He said no calls had been made complaining of incidents of that nature and no members of the public had been to them to confirm a link.
The first fire began close to a mobility scooter parked next to flats at about 0250 GMT on Saturday.The first fire began close to a mobility scooter parked next to flats at about 0250 GMT on Saturday.
CCTV footageCCTV footage
A 74-year-old woman was rescued from a neighbouring property by firefighters.A 74-year-old woman was rescued from a neighbouring property by firefighters.
The second fire, which was reported at about 0130 GMT, also started near a mobility scooter, Warwickshire Police said. The second fire, which was reported at about 0130 GMT on Monday, also started near a mobility scooter, Warwickshire Police said.
No-one was hurt in the incident but two nearby flats had to be evacuated.
Officers are examining CCTV footage and carrying out house-to-house inquiries.Officers are examining CCTV footage and carrying out house-to-house inquiries.
A spokesman said: "Detectives are investigating a second suspicious fire at Harold Cox Place, Rugby, where two elderly people died at the weekend.A spokesman said: "Detectives are investigating a second suspicious fire at Harold Cox Place, Rugby, where two elderly people died at the weekend.
"Police are now treating both incidents as arson and believe that they may be connected.""Police are now treating both incidents as arson and believe that they may be connected."
Extra patrols are taking place in the area and at other sheltered housing in the borough, a council spokesman said.
Steve Shanahan, head of housing for Rugby Borough Council, said he was "appalled" by the two incidents and saddened to hear of the deaths.
Patrols by police and community safety wardens will focus on sheltered housing, he said.
"Our primary concern at the moment is to remind our residents to keep mobility scooters out of communal corridors and away from entrance doors to their house or flat, keep fire door shut at night and remain in their homes in the event of a fire unless the fire is inside the home," he said.