House fire which killed six children was started by petrol poured through letterbox Referring to hundreds of tributes left outside his home, Mr Philpott said: "I could not believe it. We grew up in a community that has had its problems with violence and to see how it has come together is too overwhelming. We have had messages from America and France. My heart goes out to the poor people from the fire brigade who saw what we saw. Mr and Mrs Philpott were downstairs in the house in Allenton, Derby, when it was attacked. The petrol set the house alight and the fumes overcame the children sleeping upstairs. Jade, 10, John, nine, Jack, seven, Jessie, six, and five-year-old Jayden died at the scene, whilst Duwayne died in hospital on Monday. Assistant Chief Constable Steve Cotterill, of Derbyshire Police, said: "The seat was inside the front door below the letterbox and there are clear indications petrol was used as an accelerant to light the fire. The consequence was the fire took hold and smoke went upstairs to where the children were sleeping. Tragically, those children died of smoke inhalation. Mr and Mrs Philpott were elsewhere in the house on the ground floor and thankfully were able to escape. Since my last appeal, more people have come forward and I am grateful to everyone that has contacted us. Police are now asking anyone living in the local area to check their gardens for discarded petrol containers. Petrol station staff are also being asked if they can recall anyone buying fuel in containers in the day before the blaze. A 38-year-old man and 28-year-old woman arrested in the day of the blaze were released without charge 24 hours later. The funerals of the children will be held at Derby Cathedral, with each little body being brought to the service in a horse-drawn carriage. ACC Cotterill added that one line of inquiry was a possible "personal grudge" against Mr Philpott because of his "celebrity status." Mr Phiilpott hit the headlines in 2006 when demanding a bigger council home for his family, having moved his mistress and their kids in with him, his wife and their children. He also appeared on television programmes with Ann Widdecombe and Jeremy Kyle. The officer added that detectives were investigating reports of threats against Mr Philpott on Facebook to see if there was "any substance" behind them. Making a direct appeal to the person responsible, ACC Cotterill said: This person should examine their conscience. There are six children who died. The person responsible should do the right thing and hand themselves in. Police are also asking local homeowners who have private CCTV systems to examine their footage from the night of the fire, and contact them if they believe they captured anything suspicious. CCTV systems from garage forecourts are also being studied, after ACC Cotterill revealed analysis had shown the accelerant used was petrol specifically intended for motor vehicles. It is thought that detectives have still not had the chance to discuss the events of the tragic night itself with Mr Philpott and his distraught wife.