A 23-year-old man has denied murdering a woman and her young niece in a house fire.

Natalie McDonald, 34, and seven-year-old Valentina Foster died in the blaze in Grangetown, near Middlesbrough, in the early hours of 26 August.

Jaden Wright appeared at Teesside Crown Court via video link and denied two counts of murder.

He also denied two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent and two charges of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent, relating to the six people in the house at the time. Two adults and two teenagers were injured in the blaze.

Wright also pleaded not guilty to causing a woman grievous bodily harm and intentional strangulation, relating to an alleged incident the day before the fire.

Wright, of no fixed address, was remanded in custody and is due to appear at the same court on 18 December.

He was told he was due to go on trial on 19 April.