Woman dies in Ludlow house fire

A pensioner and her dog today died in a huge blaze which destroyed a south Shropshire home.

The woman, named by neighbours as Ann Morgan, and her black Labrador dog, Bramble, were killed when flames engulfed her two-storey house in Stanton Drive, Ludlow, just after midnight.

Fire chiefs said the blaze started in the kitchen but the cause is not yet known, with investigations ongoing.

John Das Gupta, head of fire prevention for Shropshire Fire & Rescue Service, said 25 firefighters attended.

One firefighter's helmet melted due to the extreme heat, added Mr Das Gupta.

Neighbours were beaten back by flames before crews arrived as they tried to save widow Mrs Morgan, who moved to the street about seven years ago and is thought to be in her 70s.

Neighbour Terry Marsh, 54, said: "There were two or three of us who had a look at getting in but there was no way we could get in there.

"The whole front door was on fire. It was well up and by the time we got out there the whole kitchen had already gone and the front door was blown open.

"The fire just took hold so very, very quickly. The whole kitchen was on fire by the time we saw it."

Wife Jane Marsh, 53, said Mrs Morgan had moved to the area from Scotland and was well-liked by her neighbours. She said: "It's terrible. It's awful, and I haven't slept all night thinking about it. It's such a tragedy.

"She was retired and lived alone as her husband had passed away. She had a daughter and a grand-daughter who used to visit."

Police closed the street in the early hours and some neighbours were evacuated.

Fire investigators were at the scene today.