A man charged with murder and arson after at least one person died in a house fire will appear in court tomorrow.

Hakeem Kigundu, aged 31, formerly of Rowe Court, Reading, has today (Dec 17) been charged with one count of murder and one count of arson with intent to endanger life.

The charges are in connection with a large fire which began shortly before 3am at a building in Rowe Court on Wednesday (Dec 15).

One unidentified person died in the blaze at Rowe Court, four people were taken to hospital and two others are still missing.

Follow live: Updates as search for two missing people continues after fire

More than fifty firefighters from around Berkshire and Oxfordshire tackled the blaze at its height, which started at 3am on Wednesday.

Residents reported seeing two people throwing themselves from windows of the building in an attempt to escape the flames.

Emergency services remained at the scene overnight working to find those unaccounted for and to secure the building, which is ‘unstable’ according to Royal Berkshire Fire Service.

It is expected emergency services will remain on scene for several days to makes the area safe.

Kigundu has been remanded in custody to appear at Reading Magistrates’ Court tomorrow (18/12).