Inquest after woman, 94, died in fire horror

AN INQUEST into the death of a 94-year-old woman after her clothes caught fire has been opened.

Gwen Faulkner perished in the fire after her clothing went up in flames as she huddled around an open fire on New Year's Eve.

Her sister, Dorothy, aged 84, was treated at The University Hospital of North Staffordshire for smoke inhalation.

The fire service was alerted to the blaze at The Avenue, Cheddleton, by a Careline system fitted to the property, where the two sisters have lived for 40 years.

Opening the inquest yesterday, North Staffordshire coroner Ian Smith said a post-mortem examination confirmed the retired assistant headteacher's cause of death was burns.

The inquest was adjourned until a date to be fixed.

Crews from Leek and Longton had rescued the younger sister before finding the older sister dead in the living room. Passers-by and neighbours fought to break down the doors.

A family spokesman, who declined to be named, said: "It is extremely sad that a woman who has led such a blameless life dies in this way."