A 23-year-old man has appeared in court charged with murdering a woman and her seven-year-old niece who died in a house fire.

Natalie McDonald, 34, died in the blaze in Grangetown, near Middlesbrough, in the early hours of 26 August, along with Valentina Foster.

Jaden Wright appeared at Teesside Magistrates’ Court charged with two counts of murder as well as multiple grievous bodily harm offences.

Wright, of no fixed address, was remanded in custody during the hearing that lasted less than two minutes, and is next due to appear at Teesside Crown Court on Thursday.

He is also accused of two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent and two charges of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent.

These charges relate to the six people in the house at the time of the blaze.

No pleas were entered during the hearing on Tuesday morning.