Search teams to enter 'arson' house

1:23am Friday 29th August 2008

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Police are preparing to enter the fire-ravaged home of a millionaire and his family amid fears their bodies are inside.

Investigators are treating the blaze, which took hold of the secluded country estate in the early hours of Tuesday, as arson.

It is feared Christopher Foster, his wife Jill, and their 15-year-old daughter Kirstie perished in the fire but the damage to their house in Maesbrook, near Oswestry, Shropshire, is so bad search teams have not yet been able to enter.

Police said they hoped to do so soon but said the search of Osbaston House was likely to take several days.

The Fosters went to a friend's barbecue on Monday before returning to their home, reportedly worth £1.2 million, later that evening.

The fire started at around 5am on Tuesday destroying a stable block, garage and badly damaging the house itself. Three horses were found dead.

West Mercia Constabulary refused to comment on reports bullet cartridges and pools of blood were found in the courtyard.

The force also refused to confirm or deny newspaper reports which suggested police feared Mr Foster may have shot dead his family before boarding himself in the house and setting fire to it.

A police spokesman said: "There is a lot of speculation going on. When we are able to we will issue facts.

"We are not able to go into the building so we do not know what, if anything, is inside."