Neighbours today told of their shock and grief at the loss of a 71-year-old woman trapped in a blaze at her home.

Emergency services called to the house in St Stephen's Square, Acomb, York, found the ground floor well alight with flames spreading to the first floor and roof.

At first, fire crews thought the house was empty but were told that a woman was still inside.

Firefighters using breathing apparatus recovered the woman, believed to be Vera Whiteley, from the building. She received assistance from paramedics but a doctor pronounced her dead at the scene.

It is thought a couple had lived in the house since it was built 30 years ago.

Assistant divisional officer Trevor Lund, of York Fire Safety Department, said: "We believe the fire started in the lounge and spread by the staircase into the upstairs and roof."

One woman, who had been a friend of the dead woman for 30 years and visited her once a week, saw her less than an hour before the fire was reported.

She said: "She was a very nice lady. I used to visit her once a week and take chocolates."

Updated: 10:54 Wednesday, March 28, 2001