A 79-YEAR-OLD woman has died in a fire at her house.

Emergency services were called to the blaze at the home in Sparch Avenue, Wolstanton, shortly after 3pm yesterday.

But there was nothing paramedics could do to save the pensioner, who was declared dead at the scene, pictured.

Close friend and Sparch Avenue resident Louise Ball was one of the first people to become aware of the fire.

Mrs Ball, aged 36, said: "I'd been to see her twice earlier in the day. I saw the nurse was coming to visit her so I went over to let her in. I saw the windows were completely black, but it didn't register.

"I opened the door and thick black smoke billowed out. The nurse rang 999. There was no way we could have gone any further into the house. I was completely devastated when I found out she had died."

Neighbours described the victim as frail, but very independent. She lived on her own in her semi-detached property since the death of her husband 37 years ago.

Mrs Ball added: "I met her four years ago. She was a strong-willed lady, and very independent. I would run errands for her, or just go round for a chat.

"She read a lot, and would tell the most wonderful stories about her life."

Another neighbour, David Capey, aged 69, said: "I heard the fire engines and came outside and saw the smoke."

Two fire engines from Newcastle and one from Burslem attended the fire, which started on the ground floor of the property at 3.14pm.

Four firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used a hose reel jet to tackle the blaze.

Fire investigation officers spent several hours at the scene trying to establish the cause.

A spokesman for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue said: "Two crews from Newcastle turned up initially and started tackling the fire."

A spokesman for Staffordshire Police said: "The incident is not being treated as suspicious.

"The cause of the fire has not been established yet, and investigations are continuing.

"We have not yet been in contact with all the next of kin."

There have been several serious house fires across Staffordshire since the turn of the year.

And half an hour before yesterday's incident in Wolstanton, crews attended a kitchen fire at a property in Calvert Grove, Bradwell. The blaze, which involved a grill pan, was put out by two firefighters.

At 7.15pm, firefighters attended a house fire in Shawport Avenue, Bradwell, where a tumble dryer caused extensive damage to a utility room in the property, although nobody was hurt.