A FAMILY is 'in total shock' after a mother and three children were killed in a house fire, which was caused by a halogen heater.

Anisha Umerji, aged 40 and her children Hammad, aged 12, Yusuf, aged 10 and Khadija, aged five, died in the blaze in Rosamond Street, Daubhill.

The father, named locally as Zubair, managed to escape the terraced house but the girl, two boys and their mother were still trapped inside.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said the fire "was caused accidentally by a halogen heater in the living room at the front of the house".

A statement on behalf of the family, released by the Bolton Council of Mosques, said: "The families are in total shock at the events of yesterday morning where an accidental fire which has led to the sad fatalities of Aneesa, aged 40, Hammad, aged 12, Yusuf, aged 10, and Khadija, aged five.

"We are aware that all the emergency services did everything they could to rescue the family members and we appreciate their efforts.`

"We are also humbled and overwhelmed with the support received from the wider community of Bolton and surrounding towns.

"We are very grateful to BCOM for there continued support in our difficult time

"The families are still trying to come to terms with what has happened and are focused on offering support to each other at this difficult time.

"We respectfully request that you all pray for the departed and allow the families to come to terms with their tragic loss.

"Thank you once again for everyone’s kind words and support, they have provided much needed strength in these very testing times."

The father, who an eyewitness described as "hammering" on the door of the terraced house, is being treated at Royal Bolton Hospital and is in a stable condition with family members at his bedside. 

A crowd gathered at the scene and investigators are continuing to inspect the burnt out property.

A Bolton Council of Mosques spokesman said: "This is a very tragic event and our hearts go out to everyone affected. We are all very saddened by these sudden deaths and the tragic circumstances surrounding them.

"Our thoughts are with the family and, as a community and an organisation, we are doing everything we can to help at this difficult time."

Tony Hunter, assistant county officer at Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, described the father's desperate attempts to save his family.

He said: "A male who we believe to be the father of the children involved was outside the property, who had jumped from the first floor, had made his way to the ground floor and was fighting with his fists to try and get back into the property.

"As you can see it is quite a substantial door and he was trying to get into that door but it took four firefighters with specialised tools to break the door down.

"We then sent firefighters in, through the intense heat, up to the first floor and found three children and who we believe to be the mother on that floor.

"We rescued them, brought them out of the property and we were met by colleagues from the North West Ambulance Service.

"Together, we carried out CPR up to and including the journey to hospital."

It is thought the family attended Jamia Darul Quran Masjid Mosque in Bridgeman Street, Deane.

The Bolton Council of Mosques are due to release details of the funeral service. 

The council confirmed the burial would take place at New Overdale Crematorium.

Rombe Ruux, aged 25, lives in one of the neighbouring houses and saw the firefighters trying to break down the door. 

He said: "The father was shouting and he was bleeding all over his body.

"We evacuated our house and I switched the gas and electricity off.

"It is really sad. I saw the children buying ice cream right here. 

"They were so happy and now, the following morning, they are gone.

"I always saw the children and father. I didn't know them by name but we would always say hi. 

"They seemed like a nice family."

Another neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said:  "It's terrible, absolutely terrible. I saw them bringing people out. They were doing chest compressions.

"I saw them bring two out and then they put a green sheet up. I don't know if they were bringing fatalities out.

"It was 9am when I heard all this commotion. Somebody - I don't know whether he lived there - there was just a load of hammering, banging on a door.

"I went to the window and saw smoke billowing.

"When I saw him after he had his hands bandaged up and his head. He either lived there and managed to get out or he was trying to get in."

Det Chf Insp Chris Bridge of GMP Bolton, called the incident 'heart-breaking' and said: "This appears to be a family home and we have been working to inform loved ones of this awful loss.

"I know the community will feel the impact of this and I assure you we are working with our colleagues at GMFRS to get to the bottom of what happened, although we are currently not treating it as suspicious.

"This means there will be officers and fire investigators in the area for some time and I would like to thank residents for their patience so far."

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said: "Dreadful news coming out of Bolton today. My thoughts are with the family, their friends and the whole community."

Cllr Cliff Morris, leader of Bolton Council, said: “We are devastated to hear of this fatal fire and our thoughts are with those who have lost loved ones.

"We will assist the police and fire services in any way possible to investigate this fire and to reassure the local community.

"If anyone has information, we’d like to ask them to contact the police.”

In an update, the fire service's group manager Lee Coleman revealed officers had made 120 house visits around Rosamond Street and installed 30 smoke alarms.