A DESPERATE son tried to battle his way through searing heat to save his mother from her burning bedroom.

Geoffrey Trotman and a neighbour fought their way upstairs towards the blaze, but were unable to reach the room where his 87-year-old mother, Winnifred, was trapped.

Outside the house in the village of Gainford, County Durham, neighbours and police, including an off-duty officer, used a ladder to try to get to Mrs Trotman through her bedroom window.

Firefighters, who themselves struggled because of the blistering heat, despite their heat-resistant uniforms, battled for 25 minutes to get the blaze under control.

When they subdued the flames, they found the pensioner's body in the room which had been the focus of the fire.

Police investigations are under way in an attempt to find the cause.

However, firefighters believe the "severe" temperatures in the room may hamper such an inquiry.

County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue brigade spokesman Station Officer Clive Pratt said: "It was a very severe fire in a very small area.

"The chances are that a lot of the evidence will be burnt away."

Fire crews from Darlington and Barnard Castle were called to the semi-detached home that Mrs Trotman has shared with her son since the 1950s, in Eden Crest, Gainford, at 11.40am on Saturday.

Station Officer Gary Noble described Mr Trotman's efforts, and that of the neighbour who accompanied him up the stairs, as "valiant".

He said that the pair had attempted to extinguish the flames, but were beaten back by the intense heat and the smoke.

"When our first crew went up to that room to gain entry, they said they experienced extreme temperatures," he said.

"The conditions were very difficult for the crews, so you can imagine what it was like for the son and the neighbour."

Mr Trotman is believed to have suffered from smoke inhalation, as well as minor burns from his attempted rescue.

Detective Inspector Ted Edgar, of Bishop Auckland police, said: "A number of people in the community have acted, setting aside their own safety.

"Unfortunately, their efforts were in vain and the whole circumstances are nothing less than a tragedy."

Mr Trotman, who is thought to be in his late 50s, is staying with relatives.

The bedroom was severely damaged by the fire, and the rest of the upstairs of the house was also badly damaged.

Further damage was also caused to an adjoining home, as well as to other parts of the house