A mum who watched her home burn down in front of her eyes has issued a heartbreaking appeal.
Celine Hickman, 25, gave her four children a bath and put them to bed, but then realised there was a fire in their house on Grizedale Avenue.
In a rush to get her children and dogs out safely, Celine has now "lost everything", as well as one of her much-loved Chihuahua's, Scruff, who got "spooked" and ran off. Desperately appealing for help, the St Helens community has rallied behind the family during their time of need.
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Celine told the ECHO : "I'd been shopping and came back to put the shopping away and put the kids in the bath and ready for bed. After that I went downstairs and was putting stuff in the bin and could smell smoke.
"I thought it was the neighbours having a barbecue and I went to see if the dogs had enough water in the back room. When I went in I saw the dryer was black and the clothes inside were on fire, that was around 10.30pm.
"I tried to get it out but it was too big and too hot but when the fresh air hit, it just exploded and the flames went up the back wall. I just shut the door, got the kids and dogs out and screamed for help.
"The fire service came but by that time the house was up in flames. I watched the house burn in front of me, it literally went up in flames in minutes."
As Celine and her four children, aged five, three, one and a newborn, are living with her mum, Celine is desperately searching for her missing Chihuahua Scruff. She said: "I didn't see Scruff come out, I thought she was still in the house and I couldn't get back in to find her.
"Later a neighbour said she'd seen her on her ring door bell running past her house and the fire service said she definitely wasn't in there. I've been putting up posters, she's all over Facebook, been walking the estate but no joy.
"Someone may have found her and kept hold of her. She's away from her sister Tilly and they've never been away from each other, she's not eating and is depressed and the kids are devastated.
"They keep asking when they can go home to their own bed but the house will have to be knocked down the damage is too bad."
A fundraising page has been set up to help the family who "lost everything" in the fire on August 23, which can be found by clicking here. Celine added: "I'd just like to thank people for supporting us in every way they have been. We've lost so much, we don't want to lose her too. People say it's only a dog but she's not."
Anyone with information on Scruff's whereabouts is urged to contact Celine.
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