A PREGNANT woman said she was going to kill two teenagers just hours before they died in an arson attack, an inquest was told.

Vikki Preston, of Manchester Road, Kearsley, and her best friend Rhona Schofield, both aged 19, died in a blaze at a house in Salford 18-months-ago.

They were staying at the house in King Street, Higher Broughton, with Chantelle Brown, who was six months pregnant, and her boyfriend Steven Drabble.

Bolton Coroners Court heard that the four had an argument on the evening of May 9, 2005, which turned violent.

Miss Brown wanted the others to move out of the house as she had been paying the rent, but they refused to go.

She left the house and went to stay at a house in Devonshire Road, where she used to live with her mother.

Family friend Suzanne McCafferty was living at the house in Devonshire Road with her three-year-old son.

She said: "I was not very happy about Chantelle staying.

"She was going mad when she came in, saying she was going kill them, and I think she was referring to Vikki and Rhona.

"She said she was going to get someone to batter them because Vikki said she had slept with Steven Drabble.

"I did not take her seriously because she was in a bad mood. She was talking to me in the early hours of the morning until about 4.30am."

Witness Louise Brown, Chantelle Brown's sister, told the court that the arguments started because Miss Preston told Mr Drabble that he was not the father of Chantelle Brown's baby.

The court heard the fire was started deliberately in two places in the house. A sofa in the rear lounge, and an armchair in the front lounge were both ignited.

Forensic scientist Stephen Andrews told the court that the way the fire spread indicated that it was deliberate.

All other possible causes, including an electrical fault or a smouldering cigarette were ruled out.

He said the fire took hold of the house quickly and started between 3.40am and 4am on May 10.

Firefighters were called at 4.09am when neighbours heard the windows blow out. Mr Andrews said: "Once the fire reached the stairs there was no chance of getting out.

"The lack of oxygen meant they would have become unconscious very quickly."

The hearing was continuing today.