The mother and her three children who died in a house fire in Bootle have been pictured for the first time.

Elisha Brabin and three of her four children are understood to have been found dead in a bedroom at their home in Stone Square during the early hours of Tuesday.

Six fire engines and eight firefighters rushed to the scene at around 3.45am with the house already ‘well alight’. Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service said when crew members arrived the blaze was spreading rapidly. 

Two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus rushed inside, where they found Elisha Brabin, 36, Leo Brabin, 16, Ellis Brabin, 8, and Prudence Brabin, 7, ‘showing no signs of life’ in an upstairs bedroom. Police later confirmed they had died. 

A heroic man who was said to have smashed the home’s windows in a desperate bid to save those trapped inside has been named locally as Kane Stephenson, the children’s father, who has also been pictured.

He was found outside the property suffering with serious burns and immediately taken into the care of the North West Ambulance Service. Another of the couple’s four children is understood to have been staying elsewhere on the night of the fire. 

Flowers, teddy bears, photographs and cards were pictured at the scene today as locals began paying tribute.  

Candles had been placed on the pavement, along with pink and blue star-shaped balloons. Soft toys, including Minecraft and Star Wars characters, were also laid.

Lisha Brabin and her partner Kane, from Bootle, are pictured. Lisha died in a devastating house fire during the early hours of Tuesday, while Kane suffered serious burns

Ellis Brabin, 8. Flowers, teddy bears, photographs and cards were pictured at the scene today as locals began paying tribute

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One card read: ‘God bless you all. Heartbroken to hear about the devastating fire.’

Another said: ‘Sleep tight. Forever in our hearts.’

A tribute from the family released today read: ‘Our whole family is devastated by the loss of Elisha, Leo, Ellis and Prudence.

‘Elisha was our beloved daughter, wife, mother, sister, aunty, niece and cousin. She was a devoted and loving mother who lived for her children. They were her whole world, and she meant everything to us.

‘Our beautiful babies, Leo, Ellis and Prudence, were loved beyond measure and brought so much joy, happiness and love to our family. They filled our lives with laughter and precious memories that we will cherish forever.

‘The tragic loss of Elisha and our three precious children has left us heartbroken. They have all been taken from us far too soon. The loss we are experiencing is unimaginable, and the impact on our family will be felt forever.

‘As we try to come to terms with this devastating tragedy, we kindly ask that our family’s privacy is respected whilst we grieve and support one another through this incredibly difficult time. We would like to thank everyone for their kindness, support and understanding.’

A GoFundMe started by those who knew Lisha has already raised more than £5,000.  

Neighbours on Marsh Avenue and King Avenue gathered on the street to show their support, with one bursting into tears as she recalled what happened.  

The woman said: ‘I heard a commotion and went outside. I heard screaming, the lady was shouting.’ 

One of those who left tributes at the scene was ex-nursery school teacher Kerry Collins, who had once looked after two of the children.

‘They were lovely kids,’ she said. ‘They were really playful and the headteacher really adored them. She’ll be devastated.’

Another neighbour said he was woken by his daughter before running to the scene with his step ladder to help.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and Merseyside Police confirmed Tuesday that they are carrying out a joint investigation to understand how the fire started. 

A family tribute today said: ‘Our beautiful babies, Leo (above), Ellis and Prudence, were loved beyond measure and brought so much joy, happiness and love to our family’

Prudence dressed up as a pirate 

Firefighters rushed to the scene at around 3.45am with the home already ‘well alight’ 

A police cordon remained in place hours after the fire as forensic teams and detectives began their probe. 

The fire service said crews would maintain a visible presence in the community in the coming days following the tragedy. 

Sefton Council leader Marion Atkinson expressed condolences on behalf of the local authority.

She said: ‘This is a truly devastating incident that I know will have shocked and saddened people across our communities.

‘Our thoughts are with the family, their friends, neighbours and everyone affected by this heartbreaking tragedy. No words can ease the pain of such an unimaginable loss.’

Chief Fire Officer Nick Searle said firefighters had been confronted with a rapidly developing fire when they arrived at the scene.

Speaking from the scene, he added: ‘Firstly, our thoughts are with everyone who’s been affected by the tragic incident this morning.

‘After a 999 call to Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service fire control room at 3.30am this morning, crews from surrounding stations were informed and mobilised to the scene with the first fire engine arriving at 3.45am.

‘The initial fire crews arrived to find the semi-detached house well alight. Crews were wearing breathing apparatus, entered the building to search the property for occupants. 

‘Six fire engines were in attendance at the height of the incident. On arrival of the fire crews, a casualty was already outside of the property, and was taken into the care of North West Ambulance Service and subsequently transferred to hospital.

Forensic investigators are pictured outside the home on Tuesday afternoon

Firefighters were seen damping down the area in the hours after the blaze

‘During the course of the search of the property, firefighters discovered four casualties, showing no signs of life, and it’s now been confirmed that all four have tragically lost their lives.

‘There will now be a full joint investigation with Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and Merseyside Police into the cause of the fire.

‘Our thoughts remain with the loved ones of those lost, and fire crews will maintain a visible and reassuring presence in the community over the coming days.’

MFRS Area Manager Kevin Longshaw said the tragedy had left firefighters and emergency service colleagues ‘devastated’.

He said: ‘This is a devastating incident, and our thoughts are very much with the family and friends of those who have lost their lives and been injured.

‘We will work closely with relevant colleagues to ascertain the cause of the fire, but in the immediate term, we again extend our sincere condolences to those affected by this tragic incident.’

In a statement, the airline said: “A technical issue was detected shortly after take-off on IndiGo flight 6E 04 operating from London to New Delhi on 22 September. Following standard operating procedures, the pilots decided to turn back and landed the aircraft safely at London Heathrow Airport. The aircraft is currently undergoing maintenance checks and will resume operations after securing all necessary clearances.”

By SABRINA PENTY, FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER

Published: 08:40 BST, 23 September 2026 | Updated: 20:18 BST, 23 September 2026

Below you’ll find the winning numbers from tonight’s £4.3m Lotto draw below. The jackpot for tonight’s Thunderball draw was £500,000.

The winning National Lottery Lotto numbers are drawn at 8pm while the National Lottery Thunderball numbers are drawn shortly after. We’ll have those results live below.

The biggest ever Lotto winner was created in April 2016 when an anonymous player banked £35m. In January 2016 two ticket-holders walked away with £33m each. Before that a main Lotto game jackpot of £42,008,610, was drawn in January 1996 and split between three anonymous winners with each being awarded £14,002,870. A single ticket won £26.4m on the New Year’s Eve lotto in 2016.

The UK National Lottery was first drawn on November 19, 1994. Half of all money spent by players goes to the prize fund with 28% to good causes, 12% to the Government as duty, 5% to retailers, and 5% which has operated the lottery throughout its history.

The results:

Our Justin got the Belfast street-style social media treatment when he was beckoned over to try one of these Mexican culinary bad boys

I got shouted at by some people in a van last week, and it rarely is a positive thing, but this time it was.

The guys from Taquitos were set up over by the big fish at the Lagan and I was walking by after work at the Waterfront Hall. They called me over to try a taco out.

I will say that they caught me at a great time because I was hungry and I have always meant to try Taquitos because I do work in town.

The menu here is simple but does have quite a few options to customise it the way you like it. You can choose from chicken adobo, Mexican chorizo, fish, mixed meat, beef and vegan/ veggie option. From there you can choose them on a soft taco, burrito and a rice bowl.

I asked them what the bestseller was because I’m not a fussy eater, and I really wanted to try what they thought was best. I was glad when I was handed a taco because I’ve heard they were fantastic.

I got the chicken adobo, which had a seasoned chicken, topped with adobo mayo, pickled onion, shredded lettuce and topped with a grated cheese.

This was a little spicy, but it was balanced out well with the mayo and cheese. I also love to see a soft taco on the menu because, in my opinion, it trumps the hard shell taco all day long.

The adobo mayo was the star of the show for me and I have thought about it since. They do sell jars of it so I might have to buy it the next time I head along.

While this is a food van, it does feel like more than this because of the idyllic setting beside one of our most iconic landmarks and along the river, with plenty of seating around to sit and eat.

I had this around lunch time, and it was the perfect amount for lunch, so if you work in Belfast City Centre, this is a great lunch option.

Typically, we pay for all of the meals we review, but full disclosure on this one, the guys here insisted I try this taco free of charge, and there was no requirement to post anything, but I just wanted to share my experience with you.

However, this would have cost £12 as the soft taco and £13 as the burrito or rice bowl. This is a little on the expensive side for a casual everyday lunch, but it is a treat that is worth splurging on once in a while.

It is also worth being mindful of their opening days, which are currently Wednesday to Saturday, but with the nature of being a food truck, I’d keep an eye on their socials for any updates they have.

All in all, Taquitos has stood the test of time over at City Quays for good reason because they’re offering some of the best tacos in the city in a really approachable way. To top it all off, the guys here were really good craic and up for a chat about the food, so I will definitely be heading back to try out the rice bowls very soon.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here

Police say they are treating all three offences “extremely seriously”

A village store has become the third to be burgled in as many days in Cambridgeshire. Two men dressed in all black are reported to have smashed through the front door of Bridge End Stores in High Street, Earith at around 3.15am this morning (September 23).

The men left around four minutes later in a small black hatchback car, taking with them a bag of cigarettes and vapes. No arrests have been made but police say an investigation is ongoing.

It follows two burglaries which happened at village shops in Willingham in the early hours of Monday and Tuesday (September 21 and 22). In one instance, the suspect left empty-handed whilst in the second incident, two men made off with a bag full of cigarettes.

Whilst police have made no indication that these incidents are linked, they say that they are treating them “extremely seriously”.

Detective Sergeant James Rabbett, from the Southern Acquisitive Crime Team, said: “We understand this latest incident will add to concerns within our communities, particularly following the recent burglaries in Bluntisham and Willingham.

“We want to reassure residents and businesses that these offences are being treated extremely seriously and officers are carrying out extensive enquiries to identify those responsible.

“We are keen to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time, saw a small black hatchback, or anyone who has dashcam, CCTV or doorbell footage that may assist our investigation.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Cambridgeshire Police online, quoting reference 35/73768/26.. Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or on their website.

The family of a mother and three children who died in a house fire have said they are experiencing an “unimaginable” loss.

Elisha Brabin, 36, and her children, Leo, 16, Ellis, 8, and Prudence, 7, died after a blaze “spread rapidly” inside a house on Stone Square in Bootle, Merseyside, in the early hours of Tuesday.

Paying tribute, their relatives said they had been left “heartbroken” and the loss would be “felt forever”.

The statement added that “Elisha was a devoted and loving mother” and “our beautiful babies, Leo, Ellis and Prudence, were loved beyond measure”.

The family said they were “devastated by the loss of Elisha, Leo, Ellis and Prudence”.

“Elisha was our beloved daughter, wife, mother, sister, auntie, niece and cousin,” they said.

“She was a devoted and loving mother who lived for her children. They were her whole world, and she meant everything to us.”

Elsewhere, a heat network development in London’s Bexley and Greenwich areas, serving up to 100,000 homes when fully built, will receive £11.5 million, and £11.4 million will go towards a system in London’s Marble Arch area that will use water-source heat pumps to take energy from the London chalk aquifer to heat offices, homes, hotels and businesses around Oxford Street.

Flaming debris from an RAF fighter jet that crashed in Wales this morning fell just yards from holiday caravans and a family home, the local farmer has revealed.

Richard Owen, 88, owner of Afallon Caravan Park near Rhosneigr, Anglesey, described his dramatic near miss with the wrecked plane, which remains scattered across his field.

The Hawk T2, reportedly on its first test flight after repairs, plummeted to the ground moments after taking off from RAF Valley, with witnesses reporting a ‘big bang’ and trailing flames.

The two pilots, forced to eject and seen parachuting to the ground in spectacular footage, were still being treated for injuries this evening.

Meanwhile, the RAF has halted all flights involving its Hawk T1 and T2 models while it investigates the crash.

Mr Owen said he was in the kitchen when the initial bang rang out, but at first he ‘didn’t think much about it’.

He said: ‘We are on the flight path and there are planes overhead every day. We’re just a couple of miles from the runway.

‘But then I heard a second bang and I saw the fire and flames. It landed just on the other side of the park.

A large pile of twisted metal was still burning when locals went to inspect it

An enormous fireball erupted as the jet crashed near the village of Rhosneigr on Anglesey

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‘I went out to take a look. There were little bits of wreckage all around the site. The tail section must have blown off and landed next to one of the caravans.

‘There was lots of smoke, thick black smoke. I didn’t dare to go too close. I was worried about it exploding.’

Mr Owen said he was thankful that most of his 30 caravans were empty, and that the vehicles were largely unscathed. 

While it took the RAF police around 15 minutes to arrive, the farmer reported that a helicopter was with the ejected pilots within ‘a minute or two’.

Both crew, understood to be studying at the No 4 Flying Training School that runs out of RAF Valley, were being treated for minor injuries this afternoon.

A local source claimed the plane had ‘just been repaired after a faulty component’.

They said: ‘This was a test flight and they realised pretty quickly that something was wrong. It was a very lucky escape for all involved.’

The Ministry of Defence refused to comment on whether the plane was on a test flight.

A RAF spokesperson said: ‘An incident involving an RAF T2 Hawk aircraft, flying out of RAF Valley, occurred near Anglesey. An investigation is underway and we will not comment further at this time.’

The force added around 7pm: ‘Following an incident involving an RAF Hawk T2 aircraft today, both pilots are receiving medical treatment. Their families are being supported.

‘The RAF has decided to temporarily pause Hawk T1 and T2 operations, as a precautionary measure, whilst investigations are ongoing.’ 

Both pilots ejected safely after the Hawk T2 training aircraft crashed moments after taking off

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Spectacular footage shows the moment both pilots made their escape from the aircraft

Footage shows the jet jerking violently as it careers through the air before the two servicemen eject simultaneously. Seconds later, the Hawk begins a steady plunge before crashing in a fireball, leaving a huge plume of smoke.

Farming influencer Gareth Wyn Jones posted a picture on social media appearing to show two ejected crew members parachuting to the ground.

‘Hope everyone is ok,’ he wrote. ‘Rhosneigr, big bang, jet on fire out of control and two parachutes??’

Aviation security expert Julian Bray told the Daily Mail it was too soon to know the cause of the crash, but said it ‘had to be pretty serious because both of them bailed out’.

‘Something has gone wrong by the angle of the aircraft in the stalled position,’ he added.

‘It might have flamed out, the engine might have given up. It’s less likely, but it’s possible it was a bird strike. Or a malfunction somewhere – but these aircrafts are looked after like babies.’

One witness said they had watched the jet take off and told his wife ‘it’s in trouble as I could see flames’.

He wrote: ‘We watched it climb then as it was parallel with us, it started to pitch up violently twice… then both pilots ejected and the Hawk crashed about a mile away.’

Another, Pete Bennett, told North Wales Live: ‘I knew straight away that it was in trouble – right on take-off there was an orange flame and as it accelerated it was basically on fire.

‘As it gained altitude the flame disappeared but it was clearly in trouble.

‘It climbed at an aggressive pitch. It pitched twice violently in the air and then there were two clear loud bangs.

‘The pilots ejected and both parachutes opened.’

North Wales Police has warned people to avoid the area ‘until further notice’.

It added: ‘Local officers are in attendance to reports of an incident involving an aircraft in the Pencarnisiog area of Anglesey, alongside colleagues from North Wales Fire and Rescue Services, Welsh Ambulance Service University Health Trust and Helimed.

‘Two pilots are being treated for what are thought to be minor injuries, and at this stage there are no reports of any wider damage or injuries.

‘Please avoid the area until further notice. Updates will be issued when appropriate.’ 

Witnesses described seeing flames coming from the Hawk T2 training aircraft after it took off from RAF Valley

The pilots were located shortly after the crash and are being treated for minor injuries

The Hawk T2 plummeted to the ground moments after taking off, with witnesses reporting a ‘big bang’ and flames coming from the jet

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The aircraft jerked violently before careering vertically towards the ground

A separate video posted on Facebook shows a Wales Air Ambulance helicopter landing in a field close to the incident.

A Royal Air Force spokesman said: ‘An incident involving an RAF T2 Hawk aircraft, flying out of RAF Valley, occurred near Anglesey. An investigation is under way and we will not comment further at this time.’

Mr Bray told us the initial white flash seen in the video as the plane descends is the initiation of the Martin Baker ejector seats, fitted as standard in all Hawk T2s.

‘You can see the aircraft is definitely not right and so the two pilots decided to eject.

‘So what they do is they pull a lever and the rest of it is automatic. There’s a rocket under the seat and the rocket explodes, fires them up into the air as the plane is going quite fast. They have to eject very, very quickly or they will get sliced by the tail fin.’

The Baker seats, made by a British firm, have saved the lives of more than 7,800 service personnel across the globe since development.

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting posted on X and said: ‘An investigation is underway. My thoughts are first and foremost with the pilots. We will provide further updates in due course.’ 

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service issued an update on Wednesday afternoon and said the blaze is now ‘under control’. 

A spokesperson said: ‘North Wales Fire and Rescue Service crews and officers attended at an incident involving an aircraft in the Pencarnisiog area of Anglesey, working alongside colleagues from Royal Air Force, North Wales Police, Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust and Wales Air Ambulance.

‘The fire is now under control.

‘Members of the public are asked to avoid the area while emergency services continue their work safely.’

RAF Valley, where Prince William was once stationed as a search-and-rescue pilot flying Sea King helicopters, is home to the RAF’s No4 Flying Training School and is responsible for training Britain’s next generation of fighter pilots.

The Hawk T2 is built by BAE Systems and has been used to train British pilots since 1976. 

It is described by the RAF as a ‘high-performance, two-seat training jet’ designed to ‘simulate front-line combat aircraft like the Typhoon’.

It is used in training to prepare pilots for complex tactical environments.

The entire fleet was briefly grounded in January 2023 amid concerns after a blade failed during an incident on the runway at RAF Valley.

They were allowed to resume operating the following month. 

What does it all mean?