A MOTHER of five died in a house fire as two her children scrambled to safety through an upstairs window.

Pauline Stannard, 45, was caught in the blaze at her semi-detached home in Lime Street, Clitheroe, at just before 11am yesterday.

Two of her children, a 15-year-old boy and 12-year-old girl, were rescued by neighbours after they managed to climb through an upstairs window and onto the porch roof.

Her son tried to go back into the house to rescue his mother but was beaten back by the smoke and flames. Fire crews found Mrs Stannard's body in the living room.

The two children, who have not yet been named, were taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary, suffering from shock and the effects of breathing in smoke and were later transferred to Queen's Park Hospital.

A police spokesman said: "It would appear at this stage that there are no apparent suspicious circumstances. Initial indications from the fire service are that origin of the fire was caused by an electrical fault in the living room.

"Enquiries are still ongoing, but it appears to be a tragic accident."

Mrs Stannard's eldest daughter, Sharon Saunders, from Calder Avenue, Billington, said the family, which also includes a grown up son and a teenage daughter, was rallying around the two youngest children to help them through the tragedy.

"Obviously, it is a lot to take in. My brother and sister were able to climb out and my brother was very brave. He helped my sister out and then tried to go back in for my mum. The neighbours were there to help too.

"We are all doing everything we can now for them and as I am the oldest I will do what I can. But it is so hard for all of us."

A number of family pets including two dogs, three rats, one cat, one rabbit and two guinea pigs, were also killed in the fire, which gutted the house.

Relatives, including one of Mrs Stannard's daughters who lives in the same street, visited the pair at Queen's Park last night.

Shocked neighbours spoke of their horror at the tragedy which had unfolded in their street.

Nextdoor neighbour Yvonne Pinder said: "I could smell the smoke, but I didn't realise to begin with that it was coming from nextdoor. I looked out and there was smoke pouring out of the back.

"I am just so shocked by it all. I keep thinking I was sat in here and it was all happening just there. She kept herself to herself. There were lots of people out there, because they were all so concerned for the children.

"You see things like this on telly, but you don't believe it's going to happen right next to you. It is terrible."

Another neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: "It is just so sad for those children. It's especially sad it happening so near to Christmas."