FIVE children were rescued by firefighters after a blaze in a kitchen swing bin filled a house full of acrid smoke.

Fire crews said three young members of the Perry family, of Tunstead Mill Terrace, Stacksteads, and a friend were being looked after by a babysitter, who will be 15 tomorrow, when the fire broke out activating a smoke detector at about 9.40am yesterday.

Bacup sub-officer John Lord praised the actions of 12-year-old Kathryn Perry who rang for help from a first floor bedroom and stayed on the telephone until the fire brigade arrived.

He said: "She did an excellent job.

"When we got to the house there were four children in the attic and one girl in the first floor bedroom.

"The house was full of thick smoke on the ground floor and so we put a ladder up to the attic but found the window was locked so we told the children to wait there.

"Leading firefighter Paul Crook and firefighter Gary Watters broke in and put the fire out in the kitchen.

"They then went upstairs and when they got to the attic forced the window from the inside and handed the four children to firefighters waiting on the ladder outside. "They went to the first floor room and using their breathing equipment helped the girl to walk down the stairs through the building and outside to safety."

Babysitter Tracey Patterson, of Ashworth Terrace, Stacksteads, Kathryn's friend Vanessa Tattersall, 13, of Wiswell Close, Constablelee, Charlotte Perry, 10, and five-year-old Tommy Perry were rescued from the attic.

All five were taken to Rochdale Infirmary suffering from smoke inhalation and shock.

Tommy and Kathryn were admitted but allowed home today. The other children were all discharged.

Assistant divisional officer Brian Cain said: "The cause is being investigated by firefighters but it is not suspicious."

The children's mother Amanda Perry had left the house to go out at 7.30pm the previous night.

Tracey's father Robert said: "My daughter expected Amanda home about midnight, but when she didn't show she stayed with the children all night.

"The first I knew about the fire was when I saw the fire engines.

"I was worried and very shocked because I could see my daughter at the attic window with the other children."

Divisional inspector David Shepherd said a report on the fire would be sent to Rossendale inspector Paul Robinson.

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