THE brave firefighter who pulled bodies of the Riaz family from their home has told how he is still haunted by the blaze.

And retained firefighter Graham Gilsenan revealed he had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder as he struggled to come to terms with the horrific events in Tremellen Street, Accrington, five weeks ago.

And speaking exclusively to the Lancashire Telegraph he also told how he: l Pulled three of the casualties, including mum Caneze, 39, and dad Mohammed, 49, from the burning house.

l Felt guilty' that he and colleagues were unable to save the lives of the Riaz family.

l Has struggled to get on with his life since the fire and is often in floods of tears.

l Has undergone counselling after being told by doctors that he has depression.

l Regularly visits the Riaz graves and had been unable to speak about the events until now.

Mr Gilsenan said that he remained haunted by the scenes of horror inside the house where the bodies of community worker Caneze and her daughters Sayrah, 16, Sophia, 12, Alisha, 10, and Hannah, three, were found.

He pulled dad Mohammed alive from the blazing house but he died two days later in hospital.

Detectives believe Mohammed was responsible for the blaze at the property and the murders of five members of his family.

The couple's eldest son Adam, 17, was in the Christie Hospital, Manchester, receiving treatment for leukaemia at the time of the fire.

Mr Gilsenan, a father of one and a former soldier who served in Kosovo, said the deaths of the Riaz family had badly affected everyone who witnessed the "horrific" scenes.

He added: "I have seen plenty of death. I have seen mass graves in Bosnia and have attended fatal house fires but nothing compares to this "It was so upsetting. I'm really struggling to cope.

"I feel guilty for not being able to do more.

"Even though I know we did as much as we could it is difficult to move on.

"We all gave 100 per cent but unfortunately there wasn't anything we could have done.

"The family's fate was sealed before we even got the call.

"I just remember standing outside afterwards in a state of complete disbelief.

"I have always wanted to be a firefighter and I love doing it but this was a horrific situation.

"Since then it has affected me badly.

"There have been times when I just can't stop crying. I've been for help and I'm on medication now."

Doctors have diagnosed him as suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.