A GRANDMOTHER fought back tears last night as she told of how 30 years of memories had been destroyed when two fires swept her home.

Maria Cossins lost everything - including possessions belonging to her husband, Raymond, and daughter, Maria, who both died 21 months ago - in the fires at her Eaglescliffe home, near Stockton, on Tuesday night.

Mrs Cossins and her three grandchildren, who lived with her, have also been left homeless with nothing but the clothes they were wearing. For now, they are staying with Mrs Cossins' 19-year-old daughter, Caroline.

Mrs Cossins said: "All my memories are gone and I have nothing left. I am just numb.

"Raymond's collection of model vintage cars has been destroyed and I have lost all my photographs.

"I was keeping a memory box for Maria's children and that has gone. It is just heartbreaking.

"Just when I thought I was getting through the worst, this happens. What makes it even worse is, because of everything that had happened, I was not insured, and so we literally have nothing."

Neighbours first spotted flames coming from the house, in Rye Close, at about 9pm and, with the help of Caroline, managed to get the children out.

Firefighters tackled the blaze for about four hours before securing the building.

However, just a few hours later a second blaze started in the house, which left nothing but charred remains.

Mrs Cossins, 47, said: "All my neighbours have rallied around me and have lent me lots of different things. I am so grateful to them."

Mr Cossins died in September 2001, aged 53, after being taken ill with cirrhosis of the liver.

Two weeks later, their daughter died aged 25. She had suffered a thrombosis a month after giving birth to a daughter, Collette.

Investigations are continuing into the cause of the blaze.