Young jockeys killed in blaze at party flat

Flags flew at half mast across at race meets across the country all weekend, in remembrance of two young jockeys killed in a fire in North Yorkshire in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Jamie Kyne, aged 18, and Jan Wilson, 19, were killed when a fire tore through Mr Kyne's flat in Norton, near Malton, North Yorkshire, at approximately 2am, as a party was taking place.

Police and the fire service continued to examine the scene of the fatal fire yesterday. They are treating the fire as suspicious and arrested a man on Saturday afternoon under suspicion of arson and intent. He was later released on conditional police bail.

In a statement police said a full forensic examination was taking place and was expected to take between one and three days to complete. The people who died were found on the second floor of the property, a post mortem is expected to be carried out tomorrow morning," a force spokeswoman said. "Alongside the forensic examination, a thorough search of the properties involved is being carried out to ensure there are no further casualties."

There was speculation yesterday that the jockeys may have been victims of a revenge attack after a man was reportedly turned away from a late-night party that was being held at the flat.

According to residents, about four or five people from the fire-affected block had returned to Mr Kyne's top floor flat after a night out. Ian Brennan, a jockey with whom he shared the flat, jumped from the third storey as the fire engulfed the flat. He was taken to hospital but raced later in the day.

Leading jockey Kieren Fallon led tributes to the two killed. The six-times champion jockey said: "It is very sad and my hearts go out to the family, friends and relatives of the poor kids. It is something you don't like to see in racing or in any other sport."