Three Bloemfontein children burnt to death after a building at the Ramkraal centre was set alight, apparently as part of clashes between two groups of local street children, says police.

Captain Harry Nagel said three people were arrested after the fire at Ramkraal, the old prison complex in Batho, early on Monday morning.

It was suspected that an argument started between two groups of Bloemfontein street children on Sunday.

The fight continued on and off during the day but the dispute turned serious when a group returned to the empty buildings at Ramkraal at 1am on Monday. The empty buildings at the complex are used by the street children to sleep at night.

Nagel said a group knocked at the door where the girls usually sleep and asked for the boys.

It was alleged that petrol was used to set another building alight and three boys - known only as Sgantsontso from Durban, Tisetso from Freedom Square (Bloemfontein) and Lehlohonolo from Welkom - were killed in the fire. They were between 15 and 20 years old.

Nagel said a post mortem would be held to find out the exact cause of death of the three street children.

Those arrested on Monday face charges of murder and arson.