A DOG sitter has told of the panic that gripped her when she discovered her house on fire.

Householder Sophie Treloar dropped her handbag and ran into her burning Radcliffe home in an effort to rescue six dogs that were in her care.

The 24-year-old had to move out of her house in Lever Street after the fire ravaged her kitchen and destroyed her possessions.

She said: "I went into panic. There was a lot of smoke coming out of the windows.

"I focused on getting the dogs out. Three of them came when we called them.

"As I went inside, the flames were half a meter away from me. My fridge was on fire. It was like walking into somewhere in the middle of the night. It was pitch black."

Miss Treloar, who had recently launched her own dog sitting, walking and taxi business, was caring for six dogs including her own when the blaze took hold at around 3pm on Sunday, June 24.

She had just returned home in a taxi after walking and dropping off a friend's dog when she discovered the fire.

The Radcliffe Times previously reported that firefighters managed to rescue two dogs but were unable to save another that had been in the kitchen.

It is believed the fire was caused by an electrical fault in the kitchen.

Miss Treloar said: "One of the dogs had hidden herself in the living room. She was in a lot of distress. That is when the firemen arrived."

Miss Treloar's own dog, one-year-old Luna, was stuck upstairs. Due to the fire, some of the floorboards had broken through and the carpet was burned, making the way unsafe.

Crews were able to rescue Luna, a cross breed between the Pug and the Cocker Spaniel.

"It all happened very quickly. I was on my knees within a couple of seconds as soon as I got hold of her", Miss Treloar said.

Mother Karin Treloar-Dewhurst said: "She has lost her home, her business will suffer, she lost money, and the clothes she was stood in were all she had left."

Ms Treloar-Dewhurst added: "I'd just like to thank the fire service for the brilliant job they are doing, and for attending so swiftly and being so supportive.

"I would also like to thank the residents of Lever Street who helped to look after the dogs and make sure they were rehydrated."

Miss Treloar has had to move into her father's Ainsworth home while she makes arrangements with her insurers.

She is in contact with the customer whose brown Labrador died in the fire, who also had another dog in her care.

Miss Treloar said: "I want to thank everyone who helped. Everyone was absolutely brilliant.

"I have had clothes given to me, little care boxes, everyone has been really kind.

"I was diagnosed with depression a couple of years ago and started dog walking to get me out of the house. It is what keeps me going."

She added: "I have lost a lot but they are things that can be replaced. I'm just glad I did what I could. I couldn't have done any more."