A BEDROOM blaze claimed the lives of two young Preston brothers who firemen believe were playing with a cigarette lighter.

Kevin Barr, aged five, and his four-year-old brother Gary died after they became trapped upstairs at their home in Dawnay Road on the Greenlands estate in Preston on Saturday afternoon.

Their mother, Jean Barr, and neighbour Michael Harrison battled to reach the screaming children but couldn't open their bedroom door before being forced back by smoke and flames.

Divisional Officer of Lancashire Fire Brigade Simon Cable said: "We are now sure a cigarette lighter was the cause. It appears that the children were playing with the lighter and the fire started in the bedding and quickly spread.

"I would like to thank the officers who put themselves at great risk and effected the rescue. Unfortunately it ended very tragically with the boys being pronounced dead on arrival at hospital."

Mrs Barr rushed her three other children, Natalie, Nicola and Michael, out of the house and returned for the two young boys, but in vain.

Firefighters were at the scene within minutes and went into the house wearing breathing apparatus. They rescued the children from the burning bedroom, but attempts to resuscitate the boys failed.

Mrs Barr is believed to be staying with friends and is too upset to comment. Many neighbours feel the same, but one said: "We are all in very deep shock. I don't think anyone will want to talk about this for a long time. We all knew them very well and it's just tragic."

More than a dozen bouquets of flowers are pinned to the boarded-up window with messages of sympathy.

The boys' headteacher at Moor Nook Primary School, Celia Davies, said: "They were lovely little boys who will be very sadly missed in school. Our deepest sympathy goes to the whole family."

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