THE heartbroken family of the three sisters who died in a house fire have spoken about the tragedy for the first time.

Grandparents John Waddington and his wife Mary told of the family's utter devastation and how parents Barry and Jayne were finding it hard to face up to life without them.

Louise Waddington, 11, and her sisters Hayley, 10, and Gemma, seven, died when a blaze ripped through their home in Lancaster Drive, Hapton, despite the frantic attempts of their mother to save them.

Family friend Roger Norris said Jayne, 44, said she felt numb at the loss but had told him: "God's now got three new angels. My little angels made it snow on Saturday."

Father Barry, a taxi driver for Tiger Taxis, based in Burnley, went back to the charred house alongside Jayne to look at the floral tributes left outside the family home yesterday.

He spoke outside the house to say he was 'devastated' by the loss but said he was too upset to comment further.

All three girls were pupils at Padiham County Primary School, with Louise preparing to go to high school later this year.

The girls will all be well remembered for the individual personalities not least for Gemma's - also known as 'Pickles' for her love of Gherkins and Pickles - love of music and Barbies. Louise loved dancing to R&B music and particularly liked the Kevin Little song. Hayley, a massive Busted fan was due to go to watch them in Sheffield next month as part of her 11th Birthday present.

The children's grandparents, John 68, and wife Mary, 67, of Ighten Road, Burnley, have been helping the family to come to terms with their sad loss.

John said: "It's been hard on us all but we have been helped because we have been to see them.

"When we saw them on Saturday they didn't look too good but we feel like we have been lifted because when we saw them yesterday they looked so peaceful which has made us feel a lot better.

"Jayne and Barry won't go and see them because they are finding it so hard to cope with but we feel it has helped us."

John added: "Barry is a right softie, Hayley had to go and hold his hand when he went to the dentist so he'll really miss her for that."

Mrs Waddington added: "The girls were all real characters but they were always very polite.

"I could take them anywhere with me and they wouldn't be a spot of trouble. Hayley and Louise had been enjoying PE classes that had been put on at the local community centre every Thursday night. It was an after school 12 week scheme to help get them get active.

"They all loved their computers because Barry was quite keen on building them from scratch. They used to go to Clitheroe Market every Sunday and were given a bit of spending money to barter with the market traders. Barry bought bits from the market and started building his own computers. All three girls had a PC in their bedroom because every time Barry made himself a better one he gave the old one to the children."

Firecrews investigating the fire believe it started by a faulty rented tumble dryer which had been left switched on.

She added: "We believe the fire was caused by an electrical fault in the tumble dryer. Jayne left it on before she went to bed because it had 15 minutes left before it had finished drying. It's just a tragic accident which nobody can be blamed for."

The couple's best friend, Roger Norris, 38, lives with his partner, Heidi Wright, 38, and three children, Faye, 13, Ashley, 12, Jade, eight, and Kerry, four, in Lancaster Drive.

He took Barry to Burnley General Hospital after he heard about the tragic news.

He said: "Jayne woke up coughing and was in the hall way, the heat was pushing her back from getting to the bedrooms but she still kept on trying. She managed to get to the window to take a few breaths before trying again but the backdraught pushed her back."

Jayne was taken to Burnley General Hospital after suffering severe burns to both her hands and feet.

Roger paid tribute to the "three little angels" and added: "Their little faces lit up any room they step foot inside.

"Those children were like my own. It feels like I have lost my own children. Seeing them being dragged from the house is something I never ever want to have to see again.

"They were round at this house every night. In fact the night after the fire Heidi even put out a dinner for Gemma because we couldn't contemplate that she had gone."

"They used to go round to neighbours houses and ask them if they wanted anything from the shop."

He added: "Barry worked night and day to provide for the children and Jayne, she would have given her last breath to save those children. She is that kind of person, the kind who would give you their last 5p or would walk to the end of the earth just to help somebody so it seems so unfair that something like this could happen to such wonderful people."

The community have started a collection for Barry and Jayne to help them them replace some of their lost possessions.

The family are awaiting the results of post mortem examinations, due to be carried out later today, before any funeral arrangements can be made.

They are hoping it will be held before the end of the week to allow pupils from their school to get involved.