A 'LOVELY' and 'caring' grandmother has died following a house fire.

Neighbours have paid tribute to the 71-year-old woman who died following the blaze at her semi-detached home in Rimington Avenue, Burnley, just before 1pm on Saturday.

Eyewitnesses described seeing firefighters rescuing the woman from the house and performing CPR until paramedics arrived.

The woman, who has not been formally named by the police, was taken to hospital but was pronounced dead on Saturday afternoon.

Nobody else was in the house at the time of the fire.

It is believed the fire started in the kitchen of the property and a joint investigation to establish the cause is underway between police and the fire service.

A neighbour and friend, who did not wish to be named, said: "She was a lovely woman and I really liked her. I am so sad this has happened to her. It is unbelievable. She always had a smile on her face. She was very caring."

Describing what she saw of the fire, the woman continued: "I got up from my chair because I heard somebody shouting 'anybody there', 'anybody there'. When I looked over my friend's front door was open there was thick black smoke coming out.

"The fire brigade were unbelievable. They went in and they managed to bring her out. They were there for ages doing CPR on her."

Next door neighbour Andrew Scaife, who lives with his girlfriend, his child and her child, said: "I was at home at the time. A girl came running into the house and said there was a fire next door. She told me to get everyone out and open the windows. Within a minute the fire engine was here. They ran into the house and within 30 seconds they had my neighbour out and they tried to resuscitate her.

"She was a nice lady who kept herself to herself. It's absolutely tragic that this sort of thing could happen."

Insp Ilyas Mohammed said: "We were called by Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service to a fire at a property in Rimington Avenue, Burnley. Unfortunately a female occupant of the premises has passed away in what is a tragic incident.

"Enquiries are ongoing between the police and the fire service to establish the cause of the fire. The woman's next of kin has been informed."

A fire service spokesman said: "Three fire engines from Burnley and Nelson attended a property in Rimington Avenue, Burnley, at 12.47pm on Saturday. One person was rescued and taken to hospital but sadly died."