A house in which five people were murdered in an arson attack is to go under the hammer later today (Wednesday).

The smoke-stained property in Maes-y-Groes, Prestatyn, has been boarded up ever since the tragedy in October, 2012, when all the occupants of the first-floor flat died in an arson attack.

In April, 2013, 43-year-old Melanie Smith was found guilty at Mold Crown Court of the murder of Lee-Ann Shiers, 20, her partner Liam Timbrell, 23, their 15-month-old son Charlie, Lee-Anna’s nephew Bailey Allen, 4, and her niece Skye, 2.

Smith, who was jailed for at least 30 years, started the fire after a row over Ms Shiers’ pushchair which was left in a shared hallway.

The court heard that Smith, who was also convicted of threatening to burn another woman’s home, had drunk 10 alcoholic drinks before starting the blaze.

The semi-detached property was owned by local firefighter Jay Liptrot, who was among those who tackled the blaze.

He told the court that he had given Smith notice to leave the property a month before the fire after she had been drunkenly abusive to Ms Shiers.

In November, 2015, Liptrot was jailed for 15 months after pleading guilty at Caernarfon Crown Court to failing to take proper safety precautions to prevent the deaths.

The court heard that a basic fire door costing £250 would have meant it would have taken 30 minutes before the blaze swept through the upstairs flat. Instead, there was a door made of glass and thin wood which failed to act as a barrier between the communal hallway and the stairs.

Liptrot, 43, initially faced manslaughter charges, which he denied, and on the second day of his trial he admitted the lesser indictment.

The charred three-bedroom property is being sold by Prestatyn agents LL Estate Properties and will be auctioned tonight (Wednesday) at the University of Bolton Stadium. The guide price is £45,000.

The sale details describe it as “being in need of total refurbishment”, but “an investment opportunity”.

It continues: “The property is extensively fire-damaged, with loss of life in the property as a result.”