AN Oldham man is among three people who appeared in court charged with the manslaughter of five people after allegedly starting a fire at a shop using petrol.

Arkan Ali, aged 37, Hawkar Hassan, aged 32, and Aram Kurd, aged 33, were arrested after an explosion destroyed a Polish supermarket and two-storey flat on February 25.

Viktorija Ljevleva, aged 22, from Oldham was among the victims.

The others killed in the blast have been named as Shane Rajoobeer, aged 18, Sean Rajoobeer, aged 17 and Leah Beth Reek, aged 18, who was Shane's girlfriend.

The fifth victim killed in the explosion on Hinckley Road, Leicester, is believed to be Shane and Sean's 46-year-old mother Mary.

The trio appeared at Leicester Magistrates' Court to face a separate count of arson with intent to endanger life and were not required to enter any pleas.

Ali and Hassan, wearing grey sweatshirts and Kurd wearing a black hooded top, looked straight ahead as they followed proceedings through a Kurdish interpreter.

Another man in his 40s from East Anglia was arrested on Sunday also on suspicion of manslaughter but was released released under investigation last night.

Two men, also from East Anglia, were arrested in connection with the incident on Friday but have since been released under investigation.