POLICE have charged a man with the murder of three-year-old Francesca Bimpson, who died after a devastating fire at her home.

Graham Heaps, 43, of Woodside Terrace, Crumlin, in Newport, South Wales, was yesterday charged with the murder of Francesca, the attempted murder of her family who were in the house at the time, and arson with intent to endanger life.

He was due to appear before Liverpool City magistrates court this morning.

Francesca suffered horrific 95% burns after the blaze in Norwood Grove, Everton, on December 2 last year.

An arsonist poured petrol through the letterbox of the home as the Bimpson family-of-six slept in their beds.

Francesca’s parents, Kieron and Eleanor, and their three other young children – Kieron, Christina and Anne-Marie – managed to escape.

But a terrified Francesca ran back in to hide under her bed covers and was trapped, despite efforts to save her.

She clung to life for three weeks before dying just before Christmas last year.

Earlier this week, her father Kieron said: “It has been just over six months since we lost our little girl, but it feels like six minutes.”