Police want to speak to everyone in the area at time of Norton flats blaze tragedy

The investigation into the blaze which killed two young jockeys has been stepped up after police asked everyone who was in the area at the time of the tragedy to get in touch with them.

North Yorkshire Police said it is was a “matter of urgency” that they spoke to every person – witness or not – who was in Church Street, Commercial Street, the mini roundabout near Wold Street or the entrance to Buckrose Court, between 1.45am and 2.15am on Saturday.

Forensic examination of the burned out property in Church Street were completed yesterday, and Detective Superintendent Alan Carey, who is leading the investigation, reminded residents that the matter was being treated as suspicious.

He said: “We are keeping an open mind while we gather all the facts and examine the full circumstances surrounding this tragic incident.

“Only when these inquiries have been completed will we be in a position to determine the cause of the fire.”

Meanwhile, the identity of the two people killed in the blaze, who have already been named in national and local media reports, has been confirmed by police as Jamie Kyne, 18, of Buckrose Court, Norton, Malton, and Jan Wilson, 19, of the Market Place, Thirsk.

Post-mortem examinations were conducted yesterday on the teenagers, though a date for any inquests has yet to be announced.

Yesterday, tributes continued to pour in from the North Yorkshire racing community to the two promising young friends. Kevin Darley, the former Classic-winning rider and now head of the Professional Jockeys’ Association, said: “I can only begin to understand the pain and the hurt that must be felt by the two families of those two young apprentice jockeys who had so much to live for.

“They were showing such promise as young people and to have lost their lives in such terrible circumstances is devastating.” Mr Darley, who lives near Boroughbridge, spoke of Jan Wilson’s “passion for the sport of horseracing” and said Jamie Kyne was a “very fine jockey in the making”.

Piggott leads donations

HORSERACING welfare charities have swung into action to help those who lost everything in the fatal blaze which tore through their accommodation block in Norton at the weekend.

While teenagers Jan Wilson and Jamie Kyne died in the fire, others lost their possessions to the flames, including clothes, lap-top computers and racing equipment.

Richard Negus, of the Racing Welfare charity, which has offices only yards from the scene of the tragedy, said racing legend Lester Piggott had already donated money to an appeal set up to help those affected by the tragedy.

He said: “Our short-term aim is to help all those people who have lost their kit. They keep their lives in these rooms and have lost everything – even clothes to go outside in.” Among those affected were Ian Brennan, the friend of Jan Wilson and Jamie Kyne, who jumped from an upper-storey window to escape the flames.

Racing Welfare also aims to help with travel expenses for family members who may wish to attend the funerals.

Mr Negus said £1,500 had already been donated since Saturday. “What this tragedy has shown is that the industry can pull together,” he said.

“If there is the will there, we can get this done.”

If you can help, cheques can be made payable to Racing Welfare, and should be sent to the charity’s office at 5B Commercial Street, Norton, North Yorkshire, YO17 9HX.

The charity can also be phoned on 01638 560763.