TRIBUTES have been paid to a retired midwife after she and her beloved rescue dog were killed in a house fire yesterday.

Fire crews attended Emerald Walk in Chilton at 3.20am following reports of a fire in a bungalow. Whe firefighters entered the property, they discovered a 78-year-woman who was pronounced dead at the scene.

The woman has been named locally as Sandy Hubbard and news of the tragedy has shocked the community. It is understood Ms Hubbard was a retired midwife and also served as a nurse in the Territorial Army..

According to her neighbours, she was well-known and loved to chat to people, particularly those who shared her love of dogs.

One nearby resident, who asked not to be named, was especially close to the pensioner and accompanied her to pickup her rescue dog, a Shi Tzu Yorkshire Terrier cross called Sasha, who also died in the blaze.

The woman said: “We picked up Sasha on Sandy’s birthday this year. They were devoted to each other. Sandy adored Sasha. She loved all dogs and always made a fuss of other people’s dogs. She was a very pleasant woman, a loveable lady.”

Durham Police and County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service (CDDFRS) have launched a joint investigation into the fire. Yesterday, a police spokesperson said the incident was not believed to be suspicious.

Neighbour Vincent Hepper told The Northern Echo he was woken by the sound of the emergency services and described seeing thick black smoke coming out of the back door.

The Mayor of Chilton, Cllr Tonya Duprey, offered her condolences.

“We are absolutely distraught,” she said. “I don’t know the woman but anything that happens in Chilton, because we’re very family oriented, hits us with sadness.”

Group manager Colin Davis, of CDDFRS, said: “Our thoughts and condolences are with the woman’s family and friends.”