A TOWN is to build a lasting memorial to celebrate the lives of three children who died in a house fire.

Padiham Town Council has decided to build the memorial as a tribute to Louise, Hayley and Gemma Waddington who died when fire ripped through their Hapton home in February.

Elizabeth Bolton, clerk of the town council, is organising the feature, which will be funded by the civic body.

Mrs Bolton said in the coming weeks a design for the tribute would be finalised.

She said: "The town council wanted to do something tangible and long lasting.

"At a meeting it was suggested and agreed a memorial should be built.

"We contacted the family and asked them about the proposal and they were delighted with it."

It is believed a faulty tumble dryer started the blaze which killed the sisters aged 11, 10 and seven.

Their mother, Jayne, tried desperately to rescue her daughters but was beaten back by the intensity of the flames.

Mrs Bolton said the feature, which could incorporate water, will be bird orientated and would be placed between the benches in the town's Centenary Gardens.

She said: "The girls used to visit the park and feed the birds so the design will reflect this.

"But the feature will be something quite substantial in keeping with the surroundings of the park."

She said the council was hoping to have the memorial, expected to be custom-built by a local garden furniture supplier, in place in the Burnley Road park within the next six to eight weeks.

Jayne Waddington said: "It's fabulous the people of Padiham have done something like this.

"It will be here forever and we are very grateful to the people of town for what they have done."

Husband Barry said he was surprised when former mayor Bob Clark raised the idea. He said he hoped the feature would be something other children could use. "We wanted something a bit different."