Twenty-five years after the New Cross Fire, the scars still run deep for the families who lost loved ones.

Now those who have fought tirelessly for justice are taking their fight to the European Court of Human Rights. Reporter GLENN EBREY spoke to one widow who is still searching for answers ...

FOURTEEN young black people died when fire ripped through a terraced house in New Cross Road on January 18, 1981.

Since then two inquests have both returned open verdicts even though the circumstances of the fire are still in doubt.

The bereaved families, who claim the blaze was started deliberately, are continuing to demand a full investigation into the tragedy.

As the 25th anniversary of the fire approaches they are set to take their case to the European Court of Human Rights, in Strasbourg.

The youngsters were attending a party at the house when the blaze took hold in the early hours of the morning.

Sandra Ruddock, who was at the party with her 22-year-old husband Paul, left the house at 3.30am with a friend.

Her husband stayed at the party and five hours later she woke up to the news which would change her life.

Mrs Ruddock, now 48, said: "I remember the whole thing like it was yesterday.

"Two policemen turned up at my door and told me Paul was seriously ill in intensive care.

"I couldn't believe it. Later when I knew he was dead I was just in total shock."

Mother-of-two Mrs Ruddock was five months pregnant at the time with her daughter Jeannine.

She added: "I have a 25-year-old daughter who has grown up not knowing who her father is.

"The only memories she hears about him come from a memorial service every year.

"My daughter is the spitting image of her dad. He lives on through her."

After the first inquest the bereaved families set up the New Cross Fire Memorial Trust.

It was pressure from the trust which forced a second inquest to be held in May 2004 but the families were left devastated when a coroner once again returned an open verdict.

The trust is now taking its battle to Strasbourg but Mrs Ruddock fears the case will not be heard for at least five years.

Mrs Ruddock, who now lives in Peckham, said: "We think the fire was started deliberately.

"There is no way anything which takes 14 innocent lives can be an accident.

"We have been fighting for 25 years and will continue until someone is brought to justice."

The families gathered on Sunday for the annual memorial service to remember those who died.

The service, held at St Andrew's United Reformed Church, Brockley Road, Brockley, will be the last annual commemoration.

Mrs Ruddock added: "We are all getting older and organising a service every year takes its toll but our trust is determined to stick together."

She added: "We are all united by grief and the loss of our children."