A FATHER AND his six-year-old daughter have died in a house fire in Shropshire.

The bodies of a 33-year-old man and his daughter, named locally as Andrew Lineton and Kay-Leigh Cooke, were found at the property in Briarwood, Brookside, Telford, at 8.45pm yesterday.

Police said there had been an “extensive kitchen fire” at the home. Officers broke down the door to the house and discovered the bodies inside.

Andrew Lineton and his daughter Kay-Leigh Cooke died in the fire

Kay-Leigh’s friends at William Reynolds Infants School in Woodside, Telford, were told the sad news this afternoon as teachers paid tribute to the youngster as a “little star”.

Mr Lineton’s colleagues at Fruit of the Loom on Halesfield have been left devastated by their deaths.

Special fire investigators and forensic teams were at the cordoned-off property this afternoon to try to identify the cause of the blaze.

Neighbours said Kay-Leigh, who lived on Woodside with her mother, stayed with her father at the weekends.

The youngster’s mother was today being comforted by family and was too upset to speak.

Friends of Mr Lineton and Kay-Leigh were in tears today as they laid floral tributes at the scene of the fire.

Councillor George Ashcroft, for the Brookside ward, today said he was “very upset” to hear about the deaths after laying flowers at the scene.

“It is devastating for the whole community,” he added.

Denise Wakefield, spokeswoman for Telford police, said: “Police are investigating the unexplained deaths of a man and a child at an address in Telford. The bodies of the man and a young girl were discovered at about 8.45pm at a house in Briarwood, Brookside.

“They were confirmed dead at the scene by paramedics. No-one else was at the property.

“Officers forced entry to the property and discovered evidence there had been an extensive kitchen fire inside.

“The Shropshire coroner has been informed and post mortem examinations are taking place to establish the cause of deaths.

“Formal identification has not yet taken place.”

Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service said it was only made aware of the fire this morning and no firefighters had attended the scene during the incident.

A spokesman said: “We have been informed by police but I can confirm no appliances went.”

A spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: “An ambulance, a rapid response vehicle and an incident support officer was sent to the scene.

“Unfortunately, it quickly became apparent that nothing could be done to save a man and a young girl who were found at the scene and they were confirmed deceased.”

By Kirsty Smallman