Heartbreaking tributes have been left at the scene where a woman was killed in a North East house fire.
Flowers and personal messages have been left at the house in Minorca Close in Hendon, Sunderland after the tragedy on Monday.
At around 4.20am, residents were awoken by a fire as it made its way through the terraced home, which is also near Lawrence Street.
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At the time, the emergency services including the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service were on the scene as they battled the blaze.
However, a woman, who has not yet been named, was sadly pronounced dead at the scene as another occupant, a man in his 70s, was rescued.
Today, just 48 hours after the tragedy, further tributes were left in the front garden with the house boarded up.
According to witnesses, residents came out of their homes to a "ruckus" as the two-storey home was alight.
One resident, Arthur Hamilton, said people were left shocked at what they were witnessing just several doors down.
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He told The Northern Echo: "I heard this ruckus at around 5am. We all feel just dismayed and we're in shock - this is the first time anything like this has happened."
Mr Hamilton, who also lives on the street, added that there was a sombre atmosphere in the community, which is now feeling very low following the incident.
According to Northumbria Police, the man remains in hospital after sustaining "serious injuries."
A spokesperson added on Tuesday: “Shortly after 4:20am yesterday (Monday) we received a report of a fire inside an address in the Lawrence Street area of Sunderland.
“Emergency services attended and sadly found the body of a woman who was deceased.
“A man who was also inside the address was taken to hospital with serious injuries. The man and woman’s next of kin have been notified.
“Enquiries were carried out into the cause of the fire which is not being treated as suspicious. Officers are satisfied there is no third-party involvement."
The Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service added: "The thoughts of everyone at Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service remains with the woman’s family at this time, and with the man who remains in hospital with injuries sustained in the fire.”
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