POLICE have said the fire that claimed the life of North-East grandmother Betty Metcalf is not being treated as suspicious.
The 83-year-old was alone in her bungalow when the blaze broke out at around 1am on Good Friday.
An investigation by County Durham Fire and Rescue Service to establish the cause of the blaze at Langdale Place, Peterlee, County Durham, is ongoing.
But Durham Constabulary spokesman said: “It is not being treated as suspicious and a file has been passed to the coroner.”
Mrs Metcalf’s family has been informed of her tragic death.
The fire is thought to have started in her bedroom.
The alarm was raised through Durham County Council’s emergency warden service, Care Connect.
Free fire safety checks and smoke alarms are available from the fire service by calling 0191-332-4222.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here