RESIDENTS have spoken of their shock after an elderly woman died following a house fire in Sutton.

North Yorkshire Police were called to the property in Wright Street by the county's Fire and Rescue Service at around 9.55pm on Saturday.

All three emergency services attended the incident where the 72-year-old woman - who was the only occupant of the house - was found in a bedroom.

Despite the efforts of ambulance staff at the scene, the woman died a short time later.

Detective Chief Inspector Allan Harder, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “The cause of the fire remains unexplained at this time and police and fire investigators are carrying out a full examination of the property in daylight hours to determine how it started.”

Edith Sugden, who lives next door, said: "I didn't know anything until the fire brigade came."

Mrs Sugden said she was in her sitting room when the fire brigade arrived, but did not need to be evacuated from her home.

"It's a pity that it's happened, but I am all right," she said. "A lady from the fire brigade kept checking in on me."

Mrs Sugden, who said she did not know her neighbour very well, added: "We've always been neighbours, but we had very little contact."

Eddie Boocock, who helps run the Sutton Community Centre which is just metres away from the Wright Street home, said: "It certainly came a shock to us."

Mr Boocock, who now lives on Boundary Avenue, said: "When we used to live on Main Street, we saw her walking her dog quite a lot."

The identity of the woman who died has yet to be released by police.