Family with newborn baby flee burning home barefoot

The mother of a newborn baby has said she is just relieved to be alive after she and her family were able to flee barefoot from their burning home.

Emily Rose Hinnells and her partner Nurfer Demiral, together with their nine-year-old daughter and five-day-old son, were preparing for bed on Saturday evening when fire broke out at their terraced home in Colne, Lancashire.

"We were terrified," said Emily Rose, while Nurfer added: "I am just glad we are all safe as a family."

The young family said they had lost everything in the blaze at their rented property in Mason Street.

Nurfer said they had just got back from a barbecue at his mother's house.

"I'm in the shower," he explained. "My missus screamed upstairs 'There's a house fire' and I've come downstairs, seen the flames coming through the back door and yeah, I've grabbed my daughter out of bed, got all my family out of the house as soon as possible."

Emily Rose added: "We had to run out literally in our pyjamas and we all had bare feet.

"It was a case of just running out the house. It wasn't like 'Oh, let's grab a couple of things on the way out'.

"We had to just get out in what we had on our backs."

She reflected: "We were just in pure shock when we couldn't even process it."

Emily Rose, whose son was born following an emergency Caesarean section, said she had still been recovering from the shock of that experience when the fire broke out.

"I was still sore from surgery, but in that moment the adrenaline kicks in and you forget all the pain, don't you?

"You're just thinking about your family and getting everyone out of the house."

The couple, who had no insurance, said they were staying with relatives following the blaze.

They have paid tribute to the local community which has rallied around them, including by launching a crowdfunding appeal.

"We've had loads of help," said Emily Rose. "We've been absolutely overwhelmed by it and we're so grateful.

"It just shows there's so many good people out there - we've been really offered so much help."

Two fire engines from Nelson and Colne responded to the fire, which broke out at about 23:11 BST.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.