Three men have been charged with murder following an explosion at a convenience store in Leicester which killed five people, including a store worker, earlier this year.

The three men, who appeared at Leicester Crown Court last month, were originally facing manslaughter charges in connection with the incident.

Aram Kurd, who was the store owner, Arkan Ali and Hawkar Hassan have also been charged with arson with intent to endanger life.

The trio have been remanded in custody to appear at the same court on 18 October ahead of their trial, which has been set for November.

It is now known that the explosion, which happened in Hinckley Road on 25 February this year, was caused by petrol which was spread throughout the store.

The former Londis store had been re-opened as a Polish supermarket shortly before the blast.

Last week a 32-year-old woman was also arrested as part of the investigation.

The woman was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson and was released under investigation later the same day.

Shop worker Viktorija Ijevleva died in the blast and subsequent fire which also tore through the two-storey flat above the store.

Brothers Shane and Sean Ragoobeer who lived in the flat above were also killed, along with their mother Mary and Shane’s girlfriend Leah Beth Reek.