Detectives investigating the murder of a two-year-old girl in an arson attack are running out of time to question two people arrested in connection with the fatal fire.

Toddler Siariah Letang from Thornton Heath died after flames tore through her grandmother Brenda Ricketts’ first-floor maisonette in Camberwell on Saturday.

Her 11-year-old aunt Shakira Jackson remains in a critical condition in hospital following the fire, which was started as the family slept.

Siariah’s mother Ellisha, 23, four-year-old brother Cameron and 40-year-old grandmother are described as being in a serious but stable condition.

Officers have been given a final extension to question a 27-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman, who have been in police custody since being arrested on Saturday evening.

Police can only detain people for up to 96 hours under UK law before they must be released or charged.

A murder investigation has been opened by the Homicide and Serious Crime Command under Acting Detective Chief Inspector Rick Murphy.

He said: “This fire has wrecked the lives of those involved and I am appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this incident to contact us and help piece together what happened.

“Were you in the area of Arnould Avenue in the early hours of Saturday morning, particularly from around 4am to the time of the incident?

“Did you see anyone acting suspiciously or notice any vehicles unusual to the area?

“If you have any information, no matter how small and insignificant it may seem, please call the investigation team on 0208 721 4868.”