A TEENAGER described how her family had a dramatic escape from a fire which broke out at their home.

Fatimah Rabbani, 19, along with taxi driver Nasser Hussain, helped her younger sister Mehmoona Rabbani out of the burning house after realising she was trapped inside.

Mehmoona, 15, said: “I can’t thank them both enough, they’re lifesavers.”

After spotting the blaze break out in a first-floor bedroom of the house in Ormerod Street, Accrington, at around 4pm on Thursday, Fatimah alerted her family and rang the fire brigade and they managed to flee the house

But Fatimah realised Mehmoona was still in the house trapped in an attic bedroom on the second floor.

She said: “So I went back in and it was all black and I was shouting at her to come downstairs.

“I got halfway up the stairs but I couldn’t see anything.

“There was smoke coming into the attic bedroom but eventually Mehmoona came out.

“I then noticed the taxi driver come in and he helped guide Mehmoona out of the house to safety.”

Fatimah said the blaze had left the upstairs badly smoke and fire damaged, including the bedroom where the fire started, the attic room and the bathroom.

The family, who only moved into the home in June after several years doing up the house, are staying with relatives while repair work is carried out.

Fatimah added: “We’re devastated by the damage and it was a terrifying experience.”

Mr Hussain was driving past and noticed flames and smoke coming from the window.

Mr Hussain, a taxi driver for 14 years, said: “I stopped and got out of the car and went to the family who were all gathered around outside.

“They said their 15-year-old daughter was upstairs in a loft bedroom on the second floor.

“So I went upstairs with the passenger I was with called Gemma, and had to pass the room which was on fire.

“She had a torch and I kept shouting to the girl not to be scared and that she could come out and I was here for her.

“Eventually, she came out and I managed to grab her by the wrists and drag her out of the house. It was on the day of my 39th birthday and I helped save a life.”

Two fire engines from Hyndburn and one crew from Blackburn attended the blaze.

A fire service spokesman said: “Four firefighters wearing breathing apparatus put out the fire and were on scene for around two hours.

“The cause of the fire is under investigation.”