A FAMILY who escaped the burning Penhallow Hotel in Newquay have spoken of their struggle to come to terms with the experience.

Barrow couple Ann-Marie Hind, 41, and husband Graham, 43, were holidaying with their two children - daughter Emily, 10, and son Daniel, 16, who suffers from cerebral palsy.

But Mrs Hind said that even though her children had lost clothes in the fire, this loss had been put into sharp perspective by the fact that people lost their lives in the blaze.

Mr Hind, who works as a welder at Padiham-based Crossland Tankers, described how the heat of the fire was intense as they fled the property.

He said: "As I was running out, I helped an elderly woman who was struggling down the stairs.

"I noticed Daniel's wheelchair had been left at the foyer and decided to collect it. As I was running out of the hotel, I could feel the heat against my back."

A 43-year-old man died when he jumped from one of the upper floor windows on Saturday morning and police believe two other people perished in the inferno.

Mrs Hind, a former special needs assistant at Whalley Primary School, said: "We can replace clothes but those people died. The children are struggling to cope with what happened."

The family were due to be on holiday until Sunday but returned home a day early following the tragic fire.

Mrs Hind added: "There was panic as guests tried to flee through the fire exits. Half the guests were unaware that the building was on fire.

"It was horrible. I didn't realise fire could spread so fast. Flames seemed to come through the centre of the hotel. Guests were standing outside in the cold in their night clothes.

"We are extremely lucky to have survived. We could have been killed in the fire. Luckily, we were given two first-floor rooms next to each other and I was awake when the alarm sounded. Had it gone off when I was asleep, then it may have been a different story.

"This has been a very traumatic experience for us all, especially for Emily and the mental scars it has left will take a long time to heal."

The family praised the attitude of Great Harwood based tour operator Robinsons, who brought them back the Ribble Valley on Saturday.

In the immediate aftermath of the blaze the family were taken to a nearby hotel along with other survivors.