A MEMORIAL stone in Renfrew honouring four children who were tragically killed in a devastating fire is set to be moved after being left behind at an old site when the school moved.

The commemorative stone honours John, Ann-Louise, Michael and Brian Lilley, who all died in a fire along with their father John at home in the town’s Tower Crescent back in 1998.

John and Ann-Louise were aged nine and six, respectively, while twins Michael and Brian were just three years old.

The stone was set in the grounds of St James’ Primary, which used to be in Porterfield Road.

But when the school moved to a new site in Brown Street in 2014, the stone was accidentally left behind. 

However, it has now been confirmed by Renfrewshire Council it will be moved to the new site and placed in the Rainbow Garden for pupils and parents to remember the tragedy. 

Councillor John Shaw, who represents Renfrew North and Braehead, assisted with arrangements to get the stone moved to the new site. 

He said: “I was glad to be able to assist in having the memorial stone moved to its rightful place in the ground of the new St James’ school. 

“Thanks must go to the education department who acted promptly on being made aware of the oversight and also to resident Hazel McLaren, who made me aware the stone had been missed in the move to the new school.”

The deadly fire broke out in the back bedroom of the flat. Firefighters at the time described is as a “blazing inferno” and said flames and dense smoke made it impossible for anyone to get near the flat until it was too late. 

Janet McClean, the children’s mother, could do nothing but look on as the blaze ripped through the top-floor tenement 20 years ago after she escaped from the building along with her child Cherrelle.

According to neighbours, the tragedy came just three days after the death of Janet’s mum, Margaret.

A Renfrewshire Council spokesman said: “We are currently arranging for the Lilley memorial stone to be positioned in the gardens of the new school site at St James’ Primary School in memory of the four Lilley children who tragically died in a fire at their home 20 years ago.”