A FAMILY are facing an uncertain future after being forced to flee their burning home on Christmas Day.

Jane and Les Pilkington were downstairs preparing the festive dinner when their teenage son, Adam, 15, alerted them to the bedroom blaze shortly after noon.

The room was destroyed and the rest of the upstairs of the house in Temple Drive, Audley, Blackburn, was severely damaged.

A family friend and the couple's daughter Vicky, 17, were also in the house at the time.

They all got out safely and firefighters arrived to put out the flames and help clear up. Mrs Pilkington said: "We have lost virtually all of our belongings. Adam had just taken all his presents upstairs, including a new CD system and clothes, so you can imagine how upset he is.

"It was really frightening because there were lots of loud bangs like bombs going off, which I later found out where aerosols.

"I am only grateful we are all safe. Possessions can always be replaced but people can't"

The family are now staying with relatives.

Mrs Pilkington added: "Unfortunately we weren't insured so we are in a bit of a mess. Most of us have literally only got the clothes we are standing in. It wasn't the sort of Christmas we were expecting. I'd just finished laying the table for our turkey dinner when the fire started."

Leading firefighter John Hampson said: "The bedroom was completely gutted and the remainder of the upstairs was damaged by heat and smoke.

"It seems the fire spread after bedding was ignited by a cigarette lighter."

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