Siblings killed in house fire 'charming and lovely'

A brother and sister who died in a house fire were "charming, lovely, lovely children", their head teacher has said.

Seven-year-old Eve and four-year-old Ohner died alongside their mother Fionnghuala Shearman and the family's dog Hutch at their home in Brimscombe Hill, Stroud on Boxing Day.

Their father Tom Shearman escaped the house and tried multiple times to re-enter to save his family. He was unable to do so due to the ferocity of the blaze, police said.

Nick Moss, head teacher of Minchinhampton Church of England Primary Academy, described the siblings as "remarkable" and said the school would prioritise supporting its pupils to deal with their feelings.

Moss said Eve, Ohner and Fionnghuala Shearman - known as Nu - were very much loved members of the community.

"Eve, I've had so many conversations with over time, a truly lovely child, really emotionally articulate," he said.

"I sometimes sat there and felt I had more to learn from her than she had from me, [she was] an utter delight."

Moss said he had just started getting to know Ohner, who was "really curious, really full of life, very helpful, very popular with his peers".

He said the school would be "dealing with feelings, first and foremost" when students return for the new term on Tuesday.

"We're trying to keep it simple this week," Moss said. "We've got to keep that routine but we've got to be open with them and clear about what's happened without going into any details."

He said the school was working with 2 Wish, a charity which supports those affected by sudden death in young people.

"These children have to walk back into school tomorrow and feel, essentially, well held," Moss added.

He said there would be more adults in the school to keep an eye on pupils and rooms available to provide support in.

In a statement released on New Year's Day, Shearman paid tribute to his wife and children and said his family's "very core" and "very essence" had been "ripped from it in the most violent way".

Shearman, a serving police officer with Gloucestershire Constabulary, said he was "humbled beyond comprehension" following an outpouring of support from the community.

An open church was held at Holy Trinity Minchinhampton on Monday morning with support from the clergy, police, fire service and The British Red Cross.

"There were a lot of tears, as you would expect," said Tracey Clements, assistant curate at the church. "But it just gave people a space for them to actually be together rather than standing outside in the cold."

"The parents were really encouraging their children to safely light a candle, parents helping their children to put flowers down," Clements added.

"There was one little girl who wrote a book that she came to show me and we looked through that together."

Flowers, cuddly toys, and messages for the family have been left at the church.

Rev Canon Howard Gilbert said the outpouring of support among the community has been "really remarkable".

"It's been hugely distressing because it's a story that's almost impossible to explain to a child just because of the horror of what's gone on and so it's going to be something for our community, school and clergy to work out over the next few weeks," he said.