A RELATIVE of a mother and four daughters killed in a tragic house fire has led community tributes to the family he loved.

Barry Khanam fought back tears as he spoke to those who gathered at Accrington's Moorhead High School for a memorial service to the Riaz family, who died in the Tremellen Street blaze.

Mr Khanam thanked the fire brigade for their efforts to save his sister and nieces, who died with their father, Mohammed, who is believed to have started the fire.

He said: "I am always going to miss having my sister around. We were always there for each other.

"I will finish by saying something that I never told her, I love you to death."

The event was due to mark Caneze Riaz's 40th birthday.

Caneze died in the fire with daughters Sayrah, 16, Sophia, 12, Alisha, 10 and Hannah, three. Sayrah's class mates shared their memories with the hall, while five candles shone to represent them.

Three boys read a poem that they had written, saying: "Her beauty and talent grew over the years, her love and affection wiped away tears."

Friends recalled her love of gossip, trendy bags, eating baked potatoes and fashion.

Another friend pledged to continue with the plans she had made with Sayrah to hold a multicultural fashion show in the new year.

Sayrah's love for her family, particularly for Hannah who she used to buy ginger biscuits for, was praised as was her devotion to her surviving brother Adam who is ill with leukaemia.

Friends of Sophia told how she loved to splash in puddles and have water fights. One Year 8 pupil said: "True friends are like stars, you can't always see them but they are always there."

Hyndburn Park Primary School headteacher John Boden read out memories from Alisha's class mates. One girl remembered how Alisha ate the sugar cubes the teacher had brought in for a science experiment.

Andrew Bateman, head of Moorhead, said it had taken courage for the children to stand up and pay their respects.

PC Steve Cox said people could continue Caneze's community work as a fitting tribute. The family were given a box of memories by the schools and a cheque for £300 was given to Christie's Hospital, where Adam is undergoing treatment.