An arson investigation has been launched after a seven-year-old boy was found dead following an early morning house fire in Deptford.

Firefighters were called to Adolphus Street in Deptford at 3.25am on Tuesday (August 7) to a "very severe fire" inside a home.

The seven-year-old boy was found dead when firefighters went inside the building.

He has now been named as Joel Urhie. His father, John Urhie, told reporters: "

“It's terrible, the pain we cannot forget.”

The father of the boy’s best friend said he was "absolutely devastated" by his death.

Mcklushia Myles, 36, said the victim was "like a son" to him.

He said: "I saw him every day. My son is the same age, they were best friends.

"He's like family. He was always so happy.

"I slept through it. I didn't even know it happened until the neighbours came knocking on the door.

"It's unbelievable to know that he's gone. My head is all over the place. I'm trying to calm down."

The carpenter also said he has no idea how he was going to tell his son of his friend’s death. 

READ MORE - Dad of little boy killed in Deptford house fire describes his heartbreak

London Fire Brigade said two women jumped from the first floor before firefighters arrived at the scene.

They were both treated by firefighters and London Ambulance Service crews.

Next-door neighbour Andre Pavanello, 21, said he heard "really, really loud screaming".

He added: "As I came out here I heard screaming and the front of the window smashed.

"I think they had to smash the window to get out and they had to jump out because the fire was getting too big."

He added: "I think that he (the boy) was trapped inside the room because the flames were way too big to start with."

Clive Stagg, 64, who lives nearby said: "I heard screaming at about 3am.

"I actually thought it was a fox until I looked out the window. I could see flames coming from a house.

"I rang the fire brigade and walked down. I've never seen anything like it."

A family friend said he lived in the house with his mother, a nurse, and his sister.

She described him as a "very quiet boy" and his mother as "an angel" who was well-known in the community.

"She would come to anyone's aid," she added.

"She's very caring, she's selfless."

The fire was under control by 4.48am and the ground floor was badly damaged along with the whole first floor and the stairs from the ground.

The boy's next of kin have been informed. 

Officers from Lewisham are investigating supported by the Met Police’s homicide and major crime command. 

No arrests have been made. 

The two women who escaped the fire were taken to a central London hospital with non-life threatening injuries. 

Fire crews from Deptford, Greenwich, New Cross, Lewisham, East Greenwich and Peckham fire stations attended the incident.

Anyone with information on this fatal fire is requested to call police on 101 quoting CAD 933/07Aug or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.