FIVE rescue cats have died in a cattery fire.

Jinny, Winnie, Ramah, Wendy and Boston perished in the blaze on Boston Grove in Leigh at around 8.25am, on Monday November 19.

The cattery belonged to a woman, who volunteers as a cat foster carer for Bradshaw-based charity Pet Rehome.

Both she and her son suffered burns while trying to save the cats, and both are too upset to talk about the incident.

Pet Rehome's Chairwoman Kathy Walton described the incident as an "unfortunate and terrible accident".

She said: "I believe the foster mum was burning some rubbish in one of those metal bins and the wind caught the lid, so it flew off. That's all she could tell us, she's devastated.

"We lost five cats and the whole pen has been burned down. It also destroyed part of her conservatory and I believe her son's caravan motor home was burnt as well.

"It was simply an unfortunate and terrible accident."

The cats were as young as five months old and all were taken in by the charity after being found on the street as strays.

Kathy added: "It breaks my heart to even think about them. Ramah was a tabby cat, the others were all black and white, apart from Boston, who was a long-haired black cat.

"Boston was the youngest, he was probably about five months old. The others were young adults and they all came in off the streets pregnant.

"We're all totally and utterly devastated. I don't think any of us slept last night."