A MUM has told of her terror at seeing her little girl running in the street with her dress in flames.

Five-year-old Stephanie Little suffered extensive burns to her back after her dress caught light as she played in front of a gas fire.

Stephanie is in an isolation unit at Manchester's Booth Hall Children's Hospital after suffering severe burns to her lower back.

She faces skin graft operations, starting on Thursday.

The youngster was playing with her new next-door neighbours in their front room when she stood too close to a gas fire.

Her mum, Elaine, said: "All we heard was a scream outside and some sort of commotion.

"I went to see what was happening and saw my next door neighbours Kevin and Debbie Smith ripping off Stephanie's clothes, which were on fire.

"All I saw was Stephanie on fire, it was horrible.'' Stephanie was saved by her friends' parents, who rolled her on the floor to put out the flames.

Debbie said: "It was horrific. I ran after her and rolled her on the floor to put the flames out. Then I stripped her dress away to prevent it sticking to her skin. "She stopped crying when the flames went out but it was really awful.''

A man who was out walking his dog arrived with a jug of water which was used to cool Stephanie down.

Stephanie, of Culshaw Street, Burnley, went next door to play with Debbie's sons, Steven, nine, Craig, seven, Nathan, five, and Adam, 14 months.

The Smiths have only been in the house for a week but the youngsters had already become friends. Stephanie has two sisters, Janine, 13, and Kimberly, 15.

Stephanie was taken to Burnley General Hospital and then transferred to Booth Hall Children's Hospital, Manchester, where her condition was described as satisfactory.

She suffered burns from the top of her legs to the shoulder blades. Elaine said: "She has been doped with morphine since it happened but early this morning she was sitting up talking.''

Stephanie attends Todmorden Road County Primary School.

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