THE devastated dad of the three sisters who died after a fire in their Hapton home said he could not believe how many people's lives they had touched.

Around 300 mourners packed out St John the Baptist RC Church in Padiham to pay their final respects to "three special gifts of God" - Louise, Hayley and Gemma Waddington.

More than 100 also lined the streets to watch as the funeral cortege bearing their three white coffins arrived at the church.

Speaking at his daughters' grave, in Padiham Cemetery, after a moving service, Barry Waddington, 40, said: "It was a beautiful service. I couldn't believe how many people came. I hadn't realised the impact my girls had had on people and the number of people whose lives they had touched."

He said there were tough times ahead for him and Jayne, his wife of 12 years.

"We have our good days and our bad days, and good and bad times within those days," he said. "But up to today I don't think it had really hit home, but today is where it starts. Now we have to try and rebuild our lives."

Barry, a taxi driver for Tiger Taxis, Church Street, paid tribute to the emergency services who helped his wife and children after fire swept through their Lancaster Drive home.

He said: "I wasn't there at the time but I know all the fire, police and ambulance staff did everything they could, but it was so quick there was nothing anyone could have done."

Barry added that he and Jayne had received tremendous support since the tragedy on Friday, February 6.

"We have amazing support from friends and family and the two police family liaison officers have also been absolutely amazing. I don't know what we would have done without them," he said.

After the service the three sisters were buried together in Padiham Cemetery. Mum Jayne, 39, who fought so desperately to save them from the blaze, could barely bring herself to watch as their coffins were lowered into ground, burying her head into Barry's shoulder.

In a final farewell to their three "angels" Barry and Jayne sprinkled rose petals on top of the coffins.