Woman dies after fire breaks out inside house

A woman in her 60s has died after a house fire in Luton.

Police, fire and ambulance services all attended the two-storey property in Ellenhall Close at about 10:30 BST on Sunday.

An investigation into the blaze found it was started by an "accident" downstairs, Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said.

Jahanara Uddin, who lives next door, told the BBC: "She's such a nice lady who keeps herself to herself. It's so sad, so sad."

Firefighters from three stations used breathing apparatus and a thermal imaging camera to extinguish the flames.

Ms Uddin said there had been a "plasticky burning smell" in the air when she headed out in the morning.

"A few minutes later my son phoned me up and said 'Mum, you won't believe what's happened next door," she added.

"It's traumatic - I've known my neighbour for so long; over 20 years."

The woman's next of kin had been informed, a police spokeswoman said.

Liz Harker, who lives in nearby Curzon Road, was working in her garden when she heard sirens.

She said: "My children are totally shocked because they knew her. We're in shock because it's two minutes from me."

A fire service spokeswoman added: "A fire investigation determined the cause of the fire was accidental."

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