A YOUNG mother died in a house fire yesterday.

The emergency services were alerted to the blaze in Grampian Road, Billingham, Teesside, at 10.30am.

The body of a woman, believed to be aged about 30, was found in the kitchen.

Despite efforts to resuscitate her on the front lawn, the woman was pronounced dead.

Cleveland Police have confirmed that they are not treating her death as suspicious.

Anne Duffy, who lives next door to the property, said an unknown man burst into the house before fire crews arrived.

“I warned him to wait as the flames had reached the ceiling, but he forced the door in anyway, which was very brave.

“He went upstairs, and when he came out he said there was no one up there, so we thought the house must have been empty.

“This is such a tragedy. No one expects something as devastating as this to happen next door to them.”

The victim, who had lived at the property for six years, is believed to have an 11-year-old daughter who was not at home at the time of the blaze.

Bouquets of flowers with messages of condolence have been attached to the front gate.

The alarm was raised by Bryan Moore, who lives opposite, after his wife, Joanne, noticed smoke and flames coming from the property.

“The fire seemed to take hold very fast. The glass cracked in the window quickly,”

Mrs Moore said.

“I am still shocked and upset. I couldn’t believe it – what a tragic thing to happen.”

Barry Waller, group manager at Cleveland Fire Brigade, said two teams of firefighters with breathing apparatus were sent into the property to tackle the blaze.

“A casualty was found inside the house,” he said.

“An investigation is under way, but it is too early to release further details.”