A COMMUNITY is reeling from the shock of the tragic deaths of a mother, her son and fianc in a fierce fire at their council home at the weekend.

Anita Riding, aged 55, son Daniel, 17, and Ray Ellison, 42, all perished in the blaze at the semi-detached house in St Gregory's Place, Chorley, in the early hours of Saturday.

Family, friends and neighbours have been left stunned by the tragedy.

Margaret Allen, Mrs Riding's sister-in-law, said: "They were all very happy together."

Mrs Riding's daughter Jane Moore, aged 28 - Daniel's step sister - of Bannister Street, Chorley, is distraught and under sedation. She works as a receptionist at Livesey funeral directors in Chorley.

"She saw Daniel every day and they were very close. Her mother was a lovely woman," added Mrs Allen, who lives in Whitefield, near Bury.

Mr Ellison, who came from Middleton, was described as a popular and likeable man.

He was a keen Manchester United fan and managed the New Minstrel pub team in the Chorley and District Alliance Football League. Daniel also played for the team together with Jane's husband Mark Moore.

Mrs Riding and Daniel, a former pupil of Albany High School who had just started computer studies at Runshaw College and would have been 18 in November, were Blackburn Rovers fans.

Both premiership clubs are aware of the tragedy and have been asked if they would send floral tributes to the funeral services tomorrow (Friday).

New Minstrel's game with Duke of York was called off on Saturday, with all other matches starting with a minute's silence as a mark of respect.

A league spokesman said: "Ray was well liked in the league and was a very popular manager and he will be greatly missed."

A funeral service for all three victims will be held at All Saints CE Church, Chorley, tomorrow (Friday) at 10.30am.

The bodies will be taken to Chorley Cemetery where Mrs Riding and Daniel will be buried.

Mr Ellison's body will then be taken on to Blakeley Crematorium, Manchester, for a family service before cremation.FIREFIGHTERS rushed to the blazing house - just 90 seconds away from Chorley Fire Station - shortly after 3am on Saturday.

When they arrived it was already engulfed in flames which were spreading to a neighbouring council home.

They got in through the front door and found all three occupants already dead, together with the family's pet dog, labrador Beauty.

Part-time fire fighter Paul Jump, based at Chorley, needed hospital treatment after being hit on the head by a slate.

Initial reports stated that Mrs Riding was found dead on the stairs, but her sister-in-law Margaret Allen said this week: "Jane has had to identify items and has been told by the coroner her mother died in bed."

Daniel's distraught father arrived at the scene but was not allowed to pass through the police cordon and left in tears.

Mrs Allen - William is her eldest brother - said: "Obviously he's devastated."

All three bodies have still not been formally identified and police have had to use dental records.

Arson has been ruled out following an investigation by police and fire chiefs. And it is thought a cigarette is likely to have caused the blaze.

A fire service spokesman said: "The supposed cause has been determined as a carelessly discarded cigarette at this point in time."

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