A domestic violence awareness project has been launched as a tribute to five members of the same family who died in a house blaze exactly four years ago.

This week marked the fourth anniversary of the horrific Accrington fire which claimed the lives of Caneze Riaz and her four young daughters.

The Tremellen Street blaze, on November 1, 2006, was started by 39-year-old Caneze’s husband, Mohammed, who later died from his injuries.

In another tragic twist Caneze’s teenage son, Adam, died just weeks later following a 12-month battle with cancer.

Surviving family members remembered their lost loved ones on Monday, before celebrating the second birthday of Caneze’s niece, Sascha, on Tuesday.

Daughter of Barry and Vicky Khanan, Sascha was named from the initials of her late family members – 16-year-old Sayrah – who was deputy head girl at Moorhead High School before it became Accrington Academy – Adam, 17, Sophia, 12, Caneze, Hannah, three, and Alicia, eight.

Barry, who lives in Bolton near his mother, June, and most of her family, said: "It is the fourth anniversary, but in the family we are remembering them every day. The family are all round each other’s houses all the time. It’s a lot closer than it used to be because of what happened. We are having a family party for Sascha on Sunday, which is nice."

He added: "Even though we’ve moved away from Accrington we have a close connection with the Asian community still.

"We have got friends there and go to the cemetery once a week, and I have an uncle who lives in Accrington too. Now we are just getting on with our lives and doing our best to remember them all in a good way."

The family has been in the thoughts and prayers of staff and pupils at the Academy, home of a student-led project that aims to promote awareness of domestic violence, the Sascha project.

English teacher Koser Mahmood grew up alongside the family, and is leading on the scheme.

Koser said: "The project was set up at the school to get parents on board as a tribute to Caneze and the girls.

"Parents can come in and talk to us if they’re having any problems with domestic violence to try and generate the help where it’s needed.

"We’re aiming to get kids to talk about issues of harm as well and get them to find a voice. It’s a really difficult time of year for people.

"We just become highly sensitive and around Halloween and firework night – the atmosphere is completely different.

"It still does affect the kids, but we find that middle ground where we can talk about it but in a certain way.

"We try to get them to put their energy into being proactive and prevent things like this happening again."

An Eid celebration will be held at Accrington Academy on Monday, November 15, from 6pm to promote and raise funds for the Sascha project.

The event is open to all.

Koser said: "People can come in and buy stuff and proceeds go to the project.

"People who are not Muslims will be encouraged to come along and integrate too."

Barry added: "All these functions are going on all year round. We don’t get to hear about all of them because we are over in Bolton now, but we are proud and chuffed about all this work."