A CARER and her family have been left homeless after fire raged through their house.

Kate Reehill says she and her four children were lucky to escape the blaze which engulfed their Avenue Street, Halliwell, home on Saturday night.

The family, who were not insured, were left with nothing and are now staying in a motel but are appealing for people to keep an eye out for their pet cat, Geoff.

He was was rescued by firemen and given oxygen but then fled and has not been seen since.

Ms Reehill works as a night time respite carer at the Mere Hall View care home but was on a day off and at home with her children Alfie, aged eight, Fred, 18, Amy, 30 and Max, 33, when the fire broke out.

She told how Alfie had been outside for exercise on his hoverboard, which was bought as a present two years ago and returned home to put it on charge in the hallway at around 10pm.

"It was literally on charge for about half an hour and we were in the living room when we heard this bang and it was on fire - it just exploded," said Ms Reehill, who wants people to double check the safety of their own electrical appliances.

Max raced upstairs to wake Thornleigh High School pupil Fred who had fallen asleep with headphones on and hadn't heard the noise and the family managed to get outside.

"It was terrifying. If we had been in bed we wouldn't have been able to get out because the fire happened in the hallway," she said.

"It was intense and it was really very fast."

Pet cat Lulu escaped but large black and grey cat Geoff fled upstairs where he was found by firemen.

"We managed to get a bit of oxygen to him but he was obviously scared with what had gone on and he ran off," said Ms Reehill.

The house was so badly damaged that the family has been unable to salvage anything and housing association Onward Homes has put them up in a motel while alternative accommodation is found.

"Obviously it's a difficult time for everyone at the moment so we might be here some time. We're just grateful we can stay here," said Ms Reehill.

"I wasn't insured and it's not good but people have been really kind and we were lucky that we managed to get out safely.

"The neighbours have been really helpful and kind and the firemen were brilliant and I would like to thank everyone."