A 15-year-old boy who suffered a cardiac arrest after being involved in a house fire has died.

The teenager, who had severe learning difficulties, was rescued by firefighters when the blaze ripped through his family home on Saturday night.

He was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital before being transferred to Alder Hey Children's hospital where he sadly died on Thursday evening.

Police are now investigating the fire, which is thought to have started in an upstairs bedroom at a property in Brunel Walk, Blackburn, shortly after 9pm on Saturday December 1.

A spokesperson for the police said: "The boy's family are being supported by specially trained officers and our thoughts are with them at this time.

"A post mortem examination will be carried out in due course to try to establish how he died.

"An investigation is on-going into the cause of the fire but we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident."

READ: Boy, 15, in hospital after blaze rips through house

Fire crews were called to the blaze at the Blackburn address and on arrival found most members of the household had managed to escape.

However, the 15-year-old was trapped upstairs and had to be rescued by firefighters.

He suffered a cardiac arrest at the scene.

A spokesman for the fire service said: “Four fire engines attended the incident and crews equipped with breathing apparatus used two hose reels and a ventilation unit to extinguish the fire.

"One person suffering burns was rescued by firefighters and a total of six people were taken to hospital."

The fire had spread through the first floor, causing extensive smoke damage and destroying the bedroom the teenager was in.

A neighbour on Brunel Walk, who did not want to be named, said: “It was a very big fire. Everyone was stood out on the street. The family were screaming, saying ‘Save my children’.”

Neighbour, Saeeda Mulla, who lives on nearby Stirling Drive, said: “By the time I came out to have a look the whole street was out and there was a lot of smoke and you could tell how bad it was just by looking at the windows."

Blackburn Central Councillor Zamir Khan said: "This is a very tragic incident and our thoughts are with the family at this sad time."

Anyone with information should contact police on 101 quoting log number 1330 of December 1.