A TEENAGE girl has died and two young boys are fighting for their lives after fire swept through a family home in Openshaw.

The girl was killed after fire ripped through the three-storey house in Herne Street off Ashton Old Road.

A 14-year-old boy and an eight-year-old boy are both being treated for severe burns in hospital. Reports say the children have more than 70 per cent burns.

A 40-year-old man is also being treated in Tameside Hospital for 20 per cent burns and an adult woman is being treated for smoke inhalation.

Three other children are also being treated for smoke inhalation.

Neighbours are believed to have desperately tried to rescue the people inside the modern three-storey town house but were beaten back by the flames which took hold at 5.20am on Thursday morning.

One person put a ladder up to the first floor but could not reach the trapped family. It is thought a family of 11 had been living in the property since October.

At its height, 30 fire fighters were tackling the inferno and at daybreak 20 police officers could be seen around the area.