A MOTHER today relived the horrific moment when her five-year-old daughter fell into a bath of scalding water and was badly burned.

Katie Cowell suffered 15 per cent burns when she tumbled while climbing to reach her toothbrush and could now be scarred for life.

After she had been taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary, Katie was transferred to Booth Hall Children's Hospital in Manchester.

Today, her mother Donna Jamieson, 29, of Coleridge Street, Blackburn, spoke of her relief at her daughter's quick recovery and said: "I'll never leave a bath unattended again."

And a spokesman for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said the incident should act as a warning to parents.

Katie fell into the bath -- which Mrs Jamieson had run for herself but had left to cool down -- after climbing up on to its rim to get to a cupboard.

She fell backwards into the water, and although she was pulled out almost immediately by her mother, she suffered serious burns to her shoulders, arms and back.

The incident happened after she had taken her clothes off, ready for bed, at 8.30pm.

Mrs Jamieson said: "The scream she let out when she fell in is something I will never forget.

"I immediately threw a towel around but she ripped it off and so much of her skin went off with it.

"It was an horrendous thing to see.

"I felt so guilty afterwards but it is one of those things you never imagine will happen.

"I had run the bath for myself and had just turned my back for a minute while it cooled down.

"It is something I will never, ever do again.

"I'll make do with a lukewarm bath rather than a hot one if it prevents a repeat of this accident and I would urge other parents to do the same.

"It is the sort of thing you would never think about and I wouldn't want it to happen to anyone else."

As she doesn't drive, Mrs Jamieson had to rely on friends running her to the Manchester hospital, where Katie's burns were treated for more than a week.

Her mother stayed as long she could at the hospital while at the same time looking after her other children -- Christopher, 12, Ben, 11, Jordan, nine, Nicole, eight and Emma, 16 months.

Katie went back to Griffin Park Primary School, Blackburn, yesterday -- two weeks after the accident.

Mrs Jamieson added: "I would like to thank everyone who has helped us and everyone who sent presents and cards to Katie, like her teachers, dinner ladies, neighbours and friends.

"She is a shy girl and doesn't like attention but we all know how lucky she has been."

A spokesman for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said: "This just goes to show how easily accidents can happen in the home.

"There are so many ways accidents can happen, and parents need to think about that all the time."