A FAMILY who were devastated at losing their four-year-old girl in a house fire spoke yesterday of the new baby that has eased their heartache.

Kaynat Akhter died at Christmas 2002 after coming into contact with an open-flame gas fire at her home in Emerson Avenue, Middlesbrough.

Her sister, Anam Akhter, now 17, battled desperately to save the youngster, trying to unbutton her clothes, but burning her hands in the process.

The youngster, who sustained 82 per cent burns, died later in hospital.

Yesterday, following an inquest into Kaynat's death, Anam said her new sister, three-month-old Laiba, and the support they had received from people, had helped parents Akhter Hussain, 43, and wife Naheed, 36, cope with the tragedy.

"We have a new sister and this has helped my parents a lot," she said.

"It was horrible at first, but you have to get on with life."

Earlier, the inquest was told how a fireguard may have prevented the tragedy.

Anam told how she had run upstairs to get water from the bathroom in the house to douse the flames, but Kaynat had followed, trying to grab her sister and setting alight the stairs.

Anam said: "I could not grab her because she was full of flames."

Deputy Teesside Coroner Gordon Hetherington said: "It must have been an horrific experience and must be every parents' nightmare that something like this should happen."

He said Kaynat had either brushed against the fire as she ran past, or had stood too close to the fire.

He said: "I am not pontificating. This family have suffered enough but, perhaps they might agree with me, if nothing else comes out of this case, it might be a warning that even children who are older and more sensible are still likely to be burned if they get too close to a fire left unguarded in this way."

He recorded a verdict of accidental death.