Vigil and balloon release is held for girl, seven, 'murdered' in Middlesbrough house fire - as another three men are arrested in police crackdown on organised crime

The family of a seven-year-old girl allegedly murdered in a house fire have paid tribute by releasing dozens of balloons in her favourite colours.Valentina Foster and her aunt, Natalie McDonald, were killed when a home was set alight in Grangetown, Middlesbrough, on Wednesday.A 23-year-old man has since been arrested, with suggestions the blaze was linked to an outbreak of gang violence.Local residents attended a balloon release this evening to give Valentina 'the best send off'.Footage shows scores of pink and purple heart-shaped balloons being let off together on a residential street in Southbank, near the location of the fatal fire.Pink smoke is also released into the air while spectators watch on.Some local residents even appear to film the event on their smartphones, standing on wheelie bins to capture the moment as the balloons drift away.Following the release, one woman commented: 'Fly with your angel wings your daddy will be waiting for you at heavens gates. Thinking of all the family at this sad time.' Local residents attended a balloon release this evening to give Valentina 'the best send off' Pink smoke is also let into the air while spectators watch on. Some local residents even appear to film the event on their smartphones Valentina Foster (pictured) and her aunt, Natalie McDonald, were killed when a home was set alight in Grangetown, Middlesbrough, on WednesdayAhead of the event, a family member said: 'Please everybody who can make it be there - as many people as possible give our baby girl the best send off she deserves.'Her favourite colours were lilac and pink so pink balloons if possible.'Let's give her the best send off.'A man arrested over the deaths of Valentina and Ms McDonald, 34, was released without charge on Sunday.Cleveland Police said the 31-year-old would face no further action but added detectives were continuing to question a second man in connection with the alleged attack.On Saturday the suspect was named as Jaden Wright, 23, during an appearance in court in relation to separate offences of grievous bodily harm and intentional strangulation.Magistrates in Teesside were told Wright, of Middlesbrough, was arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the house fire.He was subsequently charged with the GBH and strangulation offences which relate to another alleged incident in Grange Farm Road the day before, on August 25, the court heard.Police officers at the scene of the Grangetown house fire last Wednesday Valentina Foster and Natalie McDonald are pictured. A 23-year-old man has since been arrested Armed police raided two homes in Grangetown, near Middlesbrough, in the early hours of today following a week of violenceFour other people were injured in the fatal Grangetown house blaze, including a 48-year-old woman who remains in a 'critical but stable' condition at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle and a 27-year-old man, who is undergoing treatment at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.Two teenage girls were also treated in hospital for non-life-threatening injuries and were subsequently discharged.On Friday, police said the property remained unstable and work will be carried out on the building over the coming days to make the site safe, which will also allow emergency services access inside.They also confirmed the fire was not being linked to a fatal collision on the A66, which killed seven people, including two serving police officers, PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough.Officers initially said they could not rule out linking the house fire with wider gang violence that broke out in Teesside after the crash.As part of a separate probe in the area, three men have been arrested amid a police crackdown on organised crime as Middlesbrough remains gripped by criminal activity.Police say a 19 and 24-year-old were arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence after an incident on Derwentwater Road just after 11pm on Sunday.The force say the pair were collared after a vehicle was 'rammed into another vehicle'.Officers also arrested and charged an 18-year-old man with dangerous driving after a vehicle was spotted being driven dangerously in the town at 4pm on Saturday.The man appeared at Teesside Magistrates today and was remanded in custody.A total of 27 people have so far been arrested following the fatal A66 smash.In the days that followed, the fatal house fire took the lives of Valentina and Ms McDonald and cars were also set alight at a rowdy vigil for one of the crash victims.Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Fox said: 'We have said previously Cleveland Police will not stop pursuing those involved in serious and organised crime, and I hope these arrests further demonstrate that.'Our commitment to tackling criminal gangs whose intent is to harm people in our communities is, and will continue to be, a persistent focus for us.'These latest developments now take the total number of arrests since we started investigating the incidents in the early hours of Saturday 22 August 2026, to 27 and I can assure the public that they will not be the last.'We are investigating around the clock and we thank the public, not only for their support and patience while we conduct numerous enquiries, but also for the information we are receiving.'We will always act on this information in our unwavering commitment to dismantle serious and organised crime in our area.'