A COUPLE who lost a child in a fire nine years ago today told how their lives were saved by a smoke alarm fitted in their home following the tragedy.

John and Barbara Hughes were devastated when their eldest son Trevor, 18, died from smoke inhalation after a chip-pan fire in Ramsbottom in October 1993.

Horrific memories came flooding back for the couple when the oven in their Oswaldtwistle home burst into flames at the weekend but this time a smoke alarm fitted because of their son's death alerted them to the fire and the family escaped unharmed.

John, 50, said: "We were watching television when our five-year-old son Robert went into the kitchen. The smoke alarm started and we realised the oven was on fire.

"It brought those memories flooding back of Trevor screaming for help in those five minutes before he died. Barbara was physically sick when we smelled the smoke and grease and saw the flames. Neither of us could sleep afterwards because those terrible memories all came rushing back."

The fire at London Smoke Cottages, off Moss Lane, on Saturday evening began when the couple's daughter Kylie, 12, put a Pokemon Plasticine figure in the oven to bake and set its shape but accidentally switched on the grill and the oven at the same time. This excess heat caused a pan of hot fat inside the oven to ignite.

John switched off the oven and firefighters managed to contain the blaze to the oven and immediate area. He lost his eyebrows and some of his hair in the process. He said: "It could have been so much worse and our worst fear was that history was repeating itself. My first thought afterwards was 'thank God the children are okay."

Nine years ago the couple were living with their four children in Stubbins Street Ramsbottom and after a night out Trevor put the chip pan on then fell asleep on the settee.

John and Barbara were woken by his screams but were unable to get to Trevor. They and son Darren, now 26, daughter Karen, now 21, and Kylie escaped through an upstairs window.

The couple had intensive counselling and moved house twice to escape their memories. The first time was to leave the house where Trevor died and the second because everything inside the new home had been bought with insurance money from the fire. John also sold his carpet contractor's business where he worked with Trevor and set up an antique business in Ramsbottom instead because the memories were too painful.

He said: "I would urge everyone to get a smoke alarm fitted because they do save lives. If we hadn't had one fitted this time we wouldn't have known about the fire for several more minutes and as we know it only takes a few minutes for it to get out of hand.

"People need to have them installed and have them and the batteries checked or it can literally be a life or death situation."

The fire has also sparked concerns about the planned closure of Oswaldtwistle fire station -- a crew from there was able to get to the scene four minutes before an appliance from Blackburn.

John added: "The engine from Blackburn couldn't find us but the team from Oswaldtwistle has local knowledge of the area and are closer to hand in emergencies. That extra time is essential and I will definitely be signing the petition to keep the station open."