Four children and an adult found dead in burnt-out car

The bodies of four children aged between three and 12 and their 38-year-old father have been found in a burnt out car in Canning Town, East London.

Emergency services were called to South Crescent, in West Ham, after reports that a silver Nissan Primera was on fire.

The five bodies - believed to be those of an adult black male and four black children - were found inside the burned-out car.

The deaths are being treated as suspicious.

Detectives at Scotland Yard believe they know the identity of all five but are awaiting formal identification by relatives.

Post-mortems are due to be carried out.

Fire-fighters were called to South Crescent in E16 just after midnight to tackle the burning car.

They contacted police and investigations are now being carried out by the Yard's Serious Crime Group. An incident room is to be opened in Barking.