Teddies for Libby

Firefighters discovered the body of the little girl in her bedroom not long after arriving at the blazing ground floor flat in Mendip Road, Durrington, just after 2pm.

Neighbours have spoken of the frantic efforts that were made to try to save the tragic youngster. Her mum, four-year-old brother, and a 17-year-old youth had to smash double glazed windows to escape the inferno.The mum, aged 22, and youth suffered serious cuts and received first aid at the scene before being taken to hospital. All three were also treated for smoke inhalation.

Fire investigation officers are still trying to establish what caused the blaze, which is believed to have started in the girl's bedroom. She shared the room with her older brother.

Gary Towson, spokesman for West Sussex Fire and Rescue, said: "At the moment, any comment on the cause is just pure speculation. We have to investigate everything."He said officers were also investigating whether the smoke alarm in the property had been working.

"We are looking at all the possible causes about how a fire can start and develop like this.We believe strongly if working smoke alarms were in the flat then the occupants would have been given an earlier warning."

Every day since Saturday, bunches of flowers, teddies and toys with touching messages to the youngster have been placed along the wall of the house.One reads: "Beautiful smile, bubbly personality and a very gorgeous, special little girl. You will be missed so much darling. Such a beautiful baby who gave us two years of laughter and smiles. God bless you. Love you loads, Aunty Janine."

Another tribute read: "Little Libby, rest in peace. We all tried to save you today." The youngster was also described as "a little angel who had gone back to Heaven."

Mark O'Keeffe, who lives in Mendip Road, said: "It was just a horrible scene. I heard the sirens and saw the fire brigade come up the road.It is human nature to go outside and see what is going on.As I was walking up the road I could hear people shouting 'someone's still in there. The baby's still in there.'The firefighters raced straight in but it was too late. Everyone was just standing in the street in stunned silence. We were praying we would see a fireman come round the corner carrying this little bundle but that never happened.This is always the sort of thing you read about and you see on the television. You never expect it to happen in your own street. You never expect to see tributes like that lined up on your own doorstep. It is just so, so sad. A real tragedy."

Fire crews received a total of seven emergency calls on Saturday afternoon. When they arrived, flames and smoke were coming from the front and rear of the property and the whole road was filled with smoke.

Witnesses described hearing the glass smash as the young couple tried to escape the burning house.

One man, who did not want to be named, said: "A young lad was sitting on the pavement, covered in blood and clutching his side.The little boy could fit through the window because he was small. There were so many people trying to help but we just couldn't do anything."

Detective Chief Inspector Graham Pratt is in charge of the police investigation into the fire. He said: "This is a terrible and tragic case. We will not know exactly what happened until our investigation is complete."Firefighters returned to Mendip Road the day after the tragedy and fitted 46 smoke alarms in properties along the road, free of charge.