A MOTHER today relived the horror of the blaze which gutted her home and said it could be months before her family is reunited under the same roof.

The Mahmood family are having to stay with friends and family who live at opposite sides of town because they have nowhere to go after the blaze, which started in a next door neighbour's house just before midnight on Sunday.

Arshad Mahmood, 32, of New Bank Road, Blackburn, was getting ready to go to bed and had just sent her two boys and two girls upstairs when she realised her house was on fire.

Arshad's next door neighbour Fatima Bibi, who has a three-week-old son, was outside the house screaming for help.

Arshad's husband Sajid, 33, a taxi driver, was out working and she said: "I was so scared that I was actually fearing for our lives.

"It was a horrible feeling, especially because I was on my own in the house without anybody to help me get all the children to safety.

"Sajid's car had broken down as well, so that made matters even worse for the children because they were very upset and just wanted their father.

"It is devastating seeing our life's work and belongings go up into smoke -- we don't even know what state our house is in and if there is anything left to salvage. The fire crew have been tremendous and have been back a number of times to check out the houses." The family are currently staying across the road with their neighbour Frida Ali, although they will have to move out soon as there isn't enough room.

Frida said: "I have done all that I can to help. I was outside till about 5am making tea for everybody.

"I feel awful that I can't let them stop much longer but there just isn't enough room for us all.

"There are six people in their family and four in ours so it is impossible with such a small house."

It is not known when the residents will be allowed back to their houses.

Arshad said: "We have been told it could take six months to get us back into our homes, although it could be longer.

"In the meantime we are having to stay separately at friends' and relatives' houses and just hope for the best.

"We have never been away from each other for long periods so it is going to be hard having to split the family up.

"It is going to be a nightmare because we have no clothes to wear apart from the ones that we had on last night.

"Three of my children are walking around in their pyjamas."

Tommy Toplis, who lives across the road from the Mahmoods, was out all night watching the blaze.

Mr Toplis said: "It was like a scene from a film watching all the houses being wrecked by fire.

"We were all concerned as firefighters told us to stay indoors in case there was an explosion.

"The fire was spreading like wildfire and it soon took a hold of all four of the houses.

"I was surprised that more houses weren't damaged."

It is thought that the fire was started by an electrical fault in a bedroom, although firefighters have still not confirmed the cause.

All the occupants had being evacuated by the time firefighters arrived and are now staying elsewhere.

Station officer Aidan Fortune said: "We checked the houses thoroughly twice yesterday and we will continue to do this until we are absolutely certain that the area is safe."