Woman and her two children die in house fire near Stroud, police say

A mother and her two young children died in a house fire that destroyed their home in the early hours of Boxing Day despite the efforts of her husband to save his family, police said.Emergency services were called to a property on Brimscombe Hill, near Stroud, Gloucestershire, at about 3am.Gloucestershire Police said the father, who survived the blaze, was a serving officer with the force.Statement by Det Supt Ian Fletcher, Gloucestershire Constabulary.