Within ten minutes, the downstairs had reached temperatures of 1,000 degrees centigrade, causing windows to blow out.
A murderer who claimed the lives of two friends as they slept has still to be caught - 20 years on from the double killing. Rhona Schofield and Vikki Preston met at school and became good friends, becoming so close they were said to be inseparable and described as being 'like sisters'.
The girls were asleep upstairs, and within ten minutes, the downstairs had reached temperatures of 1,000 degrees centigrade, causing windows to blow out. The fire service was alerted by a neighbour at 4.09am and arrived three minutes later. Crews from Broughton Fire Station braved an intense blaze to rescue two teenagers from the first floor bedroom.
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During that evening, a series of arguments broke out between those at the address. Eventually Rhona and Vikki were left alone in the property while the rest of the group left. It is estimated the fire started some time after 3.40am. At 4.09am, Aaron Shuttleworth, of 4 King Street, noticed flames in the front room of number 23 and his partner Kelly called the fire service.
Her mother, Jacqueline, was so grief-stricken she could not face the inquest. In 2016, Jacqueline told the Manchester Evening News: "It's still raw. What makes it hard is no one has been brought to justice. I just don't function like I used to. I struggle with it on a daily basis. I don't like meeting people.
Bonded by tragedy, she made a joint appeal with Jacqueline for help to identify the double murderer as a reward of £50,000 was offered - which remains. Doreen said in 2016: "It might be 11 years but it feels like 11 days to me. We have not moved away from 2005. Someone will say something eventually. It is just waiting for that time."
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