A little girl with "the biggest smile in the world" died after playing with a lighter.

Courtney Ord, four, screamed "I'm dying, I'm dying" as her nightclothes caught fire in her brother's bedroom.

Grant, 13, woke and beat out the flames with a pillow.

Her frantic mother, who was upstairs, raced down and placed Courtney in a cold bath while phoning for an ambulance.

Courtney suffered third-degree burns over almost half her body.

Paramedics wrapped her in a burns blanket and took her to the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, where her lungs collapsed and she stopped breathing.

Doctors resuscitated her and she was transferred the same day to the intensive care unit at St George's Hospital, London.

She had skin grafts to her face and upper body and fought for life for ten days.

Her mother Mandy spent almost all that time by her daughter's bedside but returned home to Southwick one night to tend to her other children.

At 3.30am she received a phone call from the hospital telling her Courtney had died. Her lungs had finally failed.

Sussex Police are investigating the cause of the fire and an inquest will be held.

Mrs Ord said she wanted to know as much about the cause as possible but believed it was a tragic accident.

She had given up smoking and believes Courtney must have picked up a lighter left behind by a friend.

Fighting back tears, she said: "I want to know everything and maybe the lesson will prevent it happening to someone else.

"I'm heartbroken and I'll never get over it. Courtney was my baby, my only daughter.

"She was so lively and bubbly - she had the biggest smile in the world.

"I feel guilty sometimes. You think you will always be there to protect your children. But it only takes a few seconds.

"Courtney slept in my bed the night before the accident. I just wish I'd got up when she did."

Courtney was buried last Thursday at Mill Lane cemetery, Shoreham.

Her brother sobbed uncontrollably and had to be led from his sister's grave.

St Julian's Church in Southwick was packed for the funeral service and many friends and relatives will be at Courtney's grave later this month to mark what would have been her fifth birthday.

Counselling has been offered at Fishersgate County Primary School, where Courtney attended reception classes. A book of condolence has been opened there.

Ann Lawrenson, acting headteacher, said: "Staff and children are very distressed and saddened. Courtney was such a lovely little girl."

Mrs Ord said the death had torn her family apart. Grant and his brothers Nicholas, 17, and Connor, nine, are beside themselves with grief.

Mrs Ord, 35, of Butts Road, said she had been crying since the accident on June 3.

She cannot forget that morning. She said: "My neighbour came in to help. She was brilliant.

"I was bathing Courtney in cold water but the ambulance operator told me to shower her in warm water.

"I was verging on hysteria and Courtney was screaming that she was dying but my neighbour took over and calmed us both down.

"Courtney didn't look too bad at first but when she arrived at St George's I didn't recognise her. Her face was covered in gauze.

"The hospital said later she was getting better but she'd be in hospital for at least six months.

"I stayed there and helped and kept speaking to her even though she was sedated the whole time. I just wanted her better and back home with me. I still can't believe she's dead.

"Courtney was so lively and bubbly. You couldn't get her to sit down for five minutes. She wanted to do everything right there and then.

"She could be naughty and had tantrums and would give you a frown if she didn't get her own way.

"But she was so loving. She would cuddle people and was very affectionate.

"She loved her brothers and put her arms round them. She liked to mother them.

"She was cheeky and loved to play with dolls and her favourite, Winnie the Pooh.

"She was very popular. She had a boyfriend - he is two - and they would play together after school. She liked to look after him too.

"Now it is so quiet without her. There is a massive hole in our lives.

"I keep thinking she will come through the door and I keep smelling strawberries - Courtney loved a strawberry-flavoured spray that she'd put on her hair. She was so cute.

"I'm still in shock and still trying to take this all in but I know I have to be strong. I must be strong for my boys."

Mrs Ord wanted to thank the ambulance personnel, hospital staff and her neighbour who tried to help Courtney.