A woman has been killed in a blaze at her Bradford home.

Firefighters were called to the end terrace property in Boldshay Street, Barkerend, at about 6am yesterday.

The woman, who was understood to be the sole occupant of the house, was found dead at the scene.

The road remained sealed off yesterday morning as fire investigation officers and Bradford South detectives tried to establish the cause of the blaze which started in a bedroom and spread to the roof.

Detective Inspector Steve Snow, of Bradford South CID, said: “It’s not being treated as suspicious and it would appear to be a tragic accident.”

Last night neighbours talked of their shock at the tragedy. They said the dead woman was in her 50s.

Rukhsana Kureshi, who lived next door to her for 15 years, said: “I was asleep when firefighters and police officers knocked on my door.

“My window was open and I heard somebody shout ‘there’s a fire’ so I grabbed my children and took them to my mother’s house nearby.

“I was thinking ‘that’s it, my house is gone’. The roof of her house was on fire and part of it came down. She was a really nice neighbour.”

Abda Hussain, who also lived nearby, said: “She was very nice. Two or three weeks ago she took my children to the shop and spent plenty of money on them and taught them how to play hop-scotch.

“My six-year-old daughter has asked me ‘when is she coming back?’ She’s going to miss her. We will all miss her.”

Councillor Mohammed Jamil (Con, Bowling and Barkerend) said: “I’m really saddened to hear that somebody has lost their life in a fire in my ward.

“Our thoughts are with her family and I will discuss this matter with West Yorkshire Fire Authority to find out how we can prevent this from happening again.”