David Cuthbertson, 68, (pictured) and five of his children aged between 12 and four were killed in the tragic blaze
A farmhouse is to be demolished brick-by-brick so that the bodies of a father and his five children killed in an horrific blaze can be recovered from the ruins.
Experts have been brought in to take down 260 tons of bricks and mortar of the isolated home in rural Wales.
Police have not ruled out foul play after David Cuthbertson, 68, and five of his children perished in the fire nine days ago.
Officers confirmed they are preserving what is left of the 200-year-old farmhouse as a potential crime scene.
One of the walls has collapsed since the fire and it is unsafe for investigators to venture inside.
Chief Supt Tony Brown said: ‘My primary objective is to preserve evidence while being sympathetic and caring to the family of those who died in this tragedy.
‘The building is unstable and will be taken down brick-by brick before we can go in there.
‘At the moment is unsafe for anyone to go into the remains of the farmhouse.
‘Once it is made safe we will carry out a fingertip search of the whole scene.’
Chief Supt Brown confirmed the bodies of Mr Cuthbertson and five of his children aged between four and 12 are still where they died after fire ripped through the isolated house in Llangammarch Wells, Powys, Mid Wales.
Three more of his children, two boys and a girl aged 13, 12 and 10 escaped when Mr Cuthbertson lowered them to safety from an upstairs window.
It’s thought he bravely went back for the other five when he was overcome by the heat and smoke.
The rear of the farmhouse in Llangammarch Wells, Powys, which was still smoldering the morning after
A teddy bear and a note saying ‘I will miss my best friend’ which were left at the scene today
One of the walls has collapsed since the fire and it is unsafe for investigators to venture inside
Dyfed-Powys Police said the three surviving children were ‘traumatised’ after losing their dad and five siblings in the inferno.
They are being interviewed by specially trained officers to establish the cause.
A team of 40 officers are involved in the investigation, along with forensic scientists and fire experts.
Scaffolders have been brought in to stabilise the remaining walls and a temporary roof has gone up to preserve the scene from the weather.
The work has been slowed down because asbestos was discovered in the building.
Chief Supt Brown, who has been brought in from neighbouring South Wales Police, said: ‘It will be slow progress. It will take some time – we are talking weeks if not months.
‘There are 260 tons of bricks and mortar which will be taken down by hand.
‘We’ve had top explain to the family that this process is going to take some time.
An aerial view shows the devastation following the blaze in Llangammarch Wells, Powys
Officers confirmed they are preserving what is left of the 200-year-old farmhouse as a potential crime scene
‘It is very difficulty for the family – we want the best for them but I can’t put the lives of my officers at risk.
‘We’ve already had a partial collapse of the building.’
The six victims will not be officially named and identified until they are recovered from the scene.
Specialist equipment has been brought in from the Metropolitan Police to help with the difficult investigation.
Chief Inspector Martin Slevin said: ‘At the moment the cause of this intense fire is unexplained.
‘We have spoken to neighbours and there is nothing to support suspicious circumstances.’
Mr Cuthbertson was bringing up his eight children alone after his wife Seema, 44, suffered a stroke and moved to a sheltered housing unit eight miles away in Builth Wells.
It is understood he has nine grown-up children from two earlier marriages.
More than £20,000 has been raised in a Just Giving page for the family.
Police have spoken to the owners of the property in Wales, who rented it to the family