JULY will always be a sad month for loving grandmother Julia Goodall and her four-year-old granddaughter, Nicole, as it is their chance to remember their loved ones fondly.

Julia, aged 51, of Pembroke Drive, Bury, said she is still shattered by the devastating events of the day just over two years ago when fire ripped through the house in Rochdale of her daughter Layla Wild, with tragic consequences.

The blaze killed 23-year-old Layla, Layla's 11-month-old daughter, Courtney Nabb, her nine-year-old stepbrother, Alan Wild, and two-year-old Cole Ridgway - the daughter of a family friend.

Layla's partner, Mark Nabb, survived the fire.

Still coping with the tragedy, Julia said she was determined for something positive to come out of her loss in the month in which all of the victims' birthdays fall.

She has organised a fun day, due to take place this Saturday between noon and 7pm at the White Boar pub, in Radcliffe Road, Bury, to raise cash for the burns unit at Pindersfield Hospital in Wakefield, which treated Layla.

Julia, who has lived in Bury for seven years, said: "It is always an emotional time of year because all their birthdays fall at the same time.

"It's Layla's birthday on July 29, Courtney's on July 7, Cole's is on July 5 and I think Alan's is July 25, so the date we've chosen for the fundraiser is a natural midway point."

She added: "It still all doesn't seem real.

"You think about them every day and I am constantly reminded of Layla and the kids by Nicole."

On the fateful day, Julia had agreed to look after Nicole, a decision that arguably saved Nicole's life.

"Nicole is a lovely little girl and I honestly do not think I would have got through the last few years had I not had her by my side," said Julia.

"She's very clever for her age and knows what happened."

Despite going through such a difficult time, Julia said she had received magnificent support from friends and family, including her partner James O'Shaughnessy, Donna Ridgway, who is Cole's mother, and all the staff at the White Boar.

"We are going to have a fun day with a raffle, a tombola, a guest darts player and karaoke and hopefully we'll have a good crowd in there to raise as much money as possible," said Julia.

"The hospital was really supportive and if we could give something back it would be fantastic."