A mother and five of her children who died in a house fire in Neasden, north-west London, have been named.

They are 41-year-old Muna Elmufatish, the mother of Hanin Kua, 14, Basma Kua, 13, Amal Kua, nine, Mustafa Kua, five, and Yehya Kua, two.

Two other members of the family taken to hospital after the fire have also been named by police.

Bassam Kua, aged 51, the father of the family, is in a stable condition and his daughter Nur Kua, 16, remains in a critical condition.

It is understood the family was originally from Palestine and had rented their home for a few months.

Post-mortem examinations will be scheduled in due course.

The fire was being treated as unexplained but has now been deemed non-suspicious after initial investigations by the Met Police and London Fire Brigade.

Emergency services were called to the semi-detached property in Sonia Gardens shortly before 1am this morning (Saturday).

Six fire engines and 35 firefighters were at the house which was engulfed in flames.

Chief Superintendent Matthew Gardner, of Brent Police, said: “Our thoughts and sympathies go out to the friends and family of the victims, who are now having to come to terms with this terrible loss of life.”

A neighbour who wished to remain anonymous said: “I was in my room and the window was open.

“I heard a loud bang, it was literally like an explosion, almost like a bomb.

“I thought it was really strange and within four minutes I heard sirens and police cars and we looked out the window and the fire had literally reached the top within five minutes.

“We all went outside and we saw firemen looking out the window and shouting ‘there’s people in there’.”

“It was horrific, my dad says he’s never seen anything like it in his whole life, honestly I was so shocked.”

Did you see the fire or do you know the family? Add your comments below or email simon.bull@archant.co.uk