A fire that killed five members of a family was started when a naked flame was put to a child's pushchair, a jury has heard.

Lee-Anna Shiers, 20, her four-year-old nephew Bailey and two-year-old niece Skye died in the alleged arson attack at their home in North Wales on October 19.

Firefighters managed to rescue Ms Shiers's15-month-old son Charlie and his father, Liam Timbrell, 23, from their first-floor flat but they died in hospital.

Melanie Smith, 43, who lived in the flat below the victims in Maes y Groes, Prestatyn, is accused of deliberately setting fire to the pushchair because she was angry Ms Shiers had left it in a shared hallway.

She denies five counts of murder at Mold Crown Court.

Giving evidence yesterday, Stephen Andrews, a forensic fire investigation consultant and lecturer in Forensic Fire Investigations at the University of Central Lancashire, said his examinations of the property led him to conclude that the fire started in the communal hallway and spread quickly up the stairs, cutting off the only means of escape for the family.

Mr Andrews told the jury a cigarette lighter was among the debris found close to the pushchair.

The trial was adjourned until Monday when the prosecution is expected to complete its case.