THREE people have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after an 18-year-old girl was found dead in a house fire.
Leah Casson was discovered after an inferno engulfed a terraced property in North Shields, North Tyneside, on January 16.
Three others escaped the early morning blaze on Vicarage Street but suffered serious injuries.
When emergency services arrived they found Leah inside the property but she could not be saved.
A number of other properties were evacuated when the fire broke out and scaffolding was erected outside the home in the weeks that followed.
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In a heartbreaking statement at the time, Leah's parents said "we can’t believe she has gone".
They added: "Leah was an outgoing, bubbly young woman who we loved so much."
On Monday, Northumbria Police said a woman in her 40s, and two men aged between 35 and 40, had been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.
They have been released on bail and no charges made as enquiries continue.
A force spokesperson said: "As part of our ongoing investigation into the tragic death of Leah Casson, a woman in her 40s and two men aged between 35 and 40 have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.
"All three have since been released on bail.
"Our enquiries remain ongoing and we would ask people not to speculate about the case on social media and in the wider community."
