A FRANTIC mother had to watch as her four young children and their father died when fire swept through their top-floor tenement flat yesterday morning. The remains of a smoke detector were found in the flat, but there was no sign of a battery.

Mr John Lilley, 31, his three-year-old twin sons, Brian and Michael, their six-year-old sister Ann-Louise and brother John, nine, all died following the early morning blaze at their home in Tower Crescent, Renfrew.

A fifth child, Cherrelle, 10, survived along with her 33-year-old mother, Janet McLean, and her grandmother, Mrs Ann Lilley, 55.

According to neighbours, the tragedy came just three days after the death of Miss McLean's mother, Margaret. Mr Lilley's mother, who lives at Briton Street, Ibrox, in Glasgow, had stayed the night at the flat in order to accompany the family to the funeral, which was due to take place yesterday.

Residents were alerted when Miss McLean ran into the street screaming for help around 6am.

Neighbours fought desperately to reach the family, but were beaten back by intense heat and choking smoke.

Firefighters from a station nearby arrived within minutes and six officers wearing breathing apparatus entered the flat before emerging with the bodies of the children. Efforts to revive four of the youngsters on the pavement failed, but Cherrelle was resuscitated at the scene and taken to the Royal Alexandria Hospital, Paisley.

She was later transferred to the intensive care unit at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Yorkhill, where her condition last night was critical.

The children's mother and Mrs Lilley were later taken to Glasgow's Southern General Hospital suffering from shock and the effects of smoke. Their condition was described as stable.

The fire broke out in a back bedroom. Fire officers described it as a ''blazing inferno'' and said flames and dense smoke had made it impossible for anyone to get near the flat until it was too late.

Assistant firemaster Rab Coke said: ''It was a very bad fire which took hold very quickly. No-one could get into the flat to rescue anyone, and although we were on the scene in minutes there were already a number of deaths.

''The mother was outside and told us which rooms her children were in, but it was still too late. We believe the fire was probably caused accidentally by a dropped light, possibly a cigarette or a match.''

He confirmed firefighters had discovered the remains of a smoke detector in the flat, but there was no sign of a battery. ''We would

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urge householders to fit smoke detectors and ensure they are maintained in working order,'' he said. ''People should also consider fitting domestic water sprinklers in their properties because they can either stop a fire in its tracks or at least allow occupants time to escape.''

Thick smoke damaged other properties in the tenement close. Residents were evacuated and have been offered temporary accommodation by Renfrewshire Council.

Family friend Agnes McAdam, 38, who lives on the ground floor, said people on the estate were devastated by the fire, in which the family's pet mongrel dog Simba also died.

Mrs McAdam said: ''I was woken from my bed just after six o'clock by people shouting that there was a fire up the stair. I rushed out on to the pavement and saw black smoke pouring out of the top floor windows and filling up the whole close.''

Her son Robert, 21, ran up the stairs to try to kick the door down, but was forced back by the thick smoke.

Mrs McAdam added: ''It was terrible, but we couldn't do anything but call the Fire Brigade. The firefighters were on the scene very quickly, but couldn't save the children. We just cannot believe it.''

Mrs McAdam said Miss McLean, who had lived in the flat for around 10 years, was originally from the area and had four sisters.

She said: ''Janet really loved her kids and wherever she went, they would follow. They were a very close family.''

Another family friend, who asked not to be named, claimed the mother had applied to the council to be rehoused after complaining the flat was too small for her family.

Staff and pupils at St James Primary School attended by three of the children were stunned by the news and special prayers were said for the family at morning assembly.

Messages of condolence have flooded in from Cardinal Thomas Winning, Bishop of Paisley John Mone, Renfrewshire Council's Provost Nancy Allison, and local headteachers.

Grief counselling services have been arranged for distressed fellow pupils.

The scale of the tragedy, which brings the death toll from domestic fires across Strathclyde to 27 this year, stunned experienced personnel from the emergency services.

A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesman said: ''It is very traumatic for the crews, and a tragedy for the family.''

Strathclyde Police Chief Inspector Alan Davis said it was ''particularly horrifying because of the fact that children are involved''.

Last night, police and an investigation team from Strathclyde Fire Brigade were still trying to establish the cause of the fire, but said there were no suspicious circumstances.