SHE has kept her tragic memories to herself for five sad and lonely years.

But now a survivor of the horrific Birkby arson attack which claimed eight lives has spoken out in a bid to find justice.

Siddiqah Aziz, 32, managed to escape from her family home in Osborne Road in May 2002 when arsonists petrol-bombed it. But she could only watch in horror as eight members of her family died in the inferno.

This week, she appeared on the ITV1 crime programme Manhunt in a bid to help detectives trace the final suspect for the blaze.

Shahid Mohammed, now 24, fled while on police bail as the hunt for the arsonists was stepped up.

He is thought to be in hiding in Pakistan.

Ms Aziz made her tearful plea for help as part of a new police inquiry into the arson attack five years on.

She escaped from the blaze along with her father, Mr Abdul Chishti, and her brother Mohammed Shafique.

But the fire claimed the lives of her mum, Zaib-u-Nisa, her brother Ateeq, her sister Nafeesa and her five young nieces - Tayyaba, Rabia, Aeeqa, Aneesa and Najeeba.

Ms Aziz said: "I still can't believe it. Some families argue but we were all very close. My mum was my best friend and my brother was always joking with me.

"I had gone to bed early that night and I thought it was a dream. I woke and saw the front door all on fire. I was choking and I could not speak. I managed to get downstairs and helped my dad out and tried to get back for the others. But my face was on fire and I could not breathe.

"The fire was everywhere. I wanted to help but I could not get in to bring them down.

"I went to the other side of the house where people were looking but I could not see anyone in the house.

"The next thing I knew was I was at the hospital and my brother told me my mum had gone, my sister had gone and my nieces had gone.

"It has not been easy but I have to carry on. I cry every night but I can't bring them back. I just want it to be all over, until it is I cannot get on with my life".

Det Insp John Halstead, who is leading the hunt, welcomed Siddiqah's appeal.

He said: "I hope that it will strike a chord somewhere with someone who can help.

"Perhaps a member of Shahid's family in Huddersfield will realise they can talk to him but Siddiqah cannot talk to her family. All we want is confirmation of where Shahid is hiding out so that we can finally close this case"

Three Huddersfield men are serving long jail sentences for their part in the killings.

* Anyone who can help should ring Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.