A woman and three children have died in a house fire in Merseyside.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service said crews were called to the blaze at a semi-detached house in Stone Square in Bootle, Sefton, at about 3.45am on Tuesday.

Speaking at the scene, Chief Fire Officer Nick Searle said four people had died and another person had been taken to hospital in the “intense fire which spread very rapidly”.

A spokesman for the fire service later confirmed the victims were a woman and three children and said their next of kin had been informed.

Firefighters found four casualties showing no signs of life in the upstairs bedroom of the home, the fire service said.

A spokesman said: “Two members of North West Ambulance’s Hazardous Area Response Team were subsequently committed into the incident and tragically confirmed that all four had lost their lives.”

The fifth casualty was outside the house when crews arrived and was taken to hospital suffering from burns.

Fire service area manager Kevin Longshaw said: “This is a devastating incident and our thoughts are very much with the family and friends of those who have lost their lives and been injured.

“We will work closely with relevant colleagues to ascertain the cause of the fire, but in the immediate term, we again extend our sincere condolences to those affected by this tragic incident.”

The fire service is now undertaking a joint investigation with Merseyside Police to establish the cause of the blaze.

On Tuesday morning, the street was cordoned off by police and fire officers could be seen knocking on doors of neighbouring homes.

Fire engines could be seen arriving and leaving the scene.

One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: “We all came out on the front and we could see smoke coming over from the houses.

“The sirens woke me up and there were fire engines in the street.”

Another woman said: “I heard shouting in the early hours but I just thought someone was having an argument, then I came downstairs and saw all the fire engines.”

Six fire engines were on the scene at the height of the fire and eight firefighters entered the house, which was well alight when they arrived, to search for occupants and tackle the blaze, a fire service spokesman said.