The family of a mother and three children who died in a house fire have said they are experiencing an “unimaginable” loss.

Elisha Brabin, 36, and her children, Leo, 16, Ellis, 8, and Prudence, 7, died after a blaze “spread rapidly” inside a house on Stone Square in Bootle, Merseyside, in the early hours of Tuesday.

Paying tribute, their relatives said they had been left “heartbroken” and the loss would be “felt forever”.

The statement added that “Elisha was a devoted and loving mother” and “our beautiful babies, Leo, Ellis and Prudence, were loved beyond measure”.

The family said they were “devastated by the loss of Elisha, Leo, Ellis and Prudence”.

“Elisha was our beloved daughter, wife, mother, sister, auntie, niece and cousin,” they said.

“She was a devoted and loving mother who lived for her children. They were her whole world, and she meant everything to us.”

The statement added: “Our beautiful babies, Leo, Ellis and Prudence, were loved beyond measure and brought so much joy, happiness and love to our family.

“They filled our lives with laughter and precious memories that we will cherish forever.

“The tragic loss of Elisha and our three precious children has left us heartbroken. They have all been taken from us far too soon.

“The loss we are experiencing is unimaginable, and the impact on our family will be felt forever.”

The family asked for privacy whilst they grieved and supported one another, adding: “We would like to thank everyone for their kindness, support and understanding.”

Earlier, neighbours and friends were also paying their respects.

Rachel, who grew up near the mother, told the BBC: “She made her children happy, she did everything for her children.” She added: “They were loved. It’s just really, really sad.”

After leaving flowers close to a police cordon around Stone Square, she said: “Even if I didn’t know her, I’d still be here paying my respects because the young children have lost their lives and so has the mother.

“It’s ripped the whole family apart.”

Loti Nambombe, who is taking care of the family’s dog after the fire, said: “It’s a community. It’s broken. It hurts.”

Nambombe set up an online fundraising page for the family, which had raised more than £5,000 on Wednesday.

He said: “Everybody just wants to do something to help, that’s our duty as neighbours and as a community.”

He said funds could go towards funeral costs or anything else the family needed.

Nambombe told how residents came out in the street to help after hearing screaming when the blaze broke out.

He said: “Some of the guys here are real heroes. They were trying to run in, get ladders or smash windows to get people out. People nearly risked their own lives to try and help.”

Speaking to BBC Radio Merseyside, Liverpool metro mayor Steve Rotheram said: “There is that bond in most of those communities that we’re talking about, certainly in Bootle and places like that – a very, very strong identity.

“I’m certain that whatever they can do as a community to help those who have been left behind, they will.”

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