INVESTIGATIONS are continuing into a severe house fire that killed a North-East woman today.

The woman died in the fire at Scott Street, in Shildon, County Durham, which broke out just after 12.30pm.

The fire service reached the scene within six minutes of receiving reports that a woman was trapped inside the burning building.

Witnesses in the street reported seeing a woman's face at one of the windows, and a man running from the building, along the street, and towards the back of the house, shouting "please get her out".

One woman, who reached the scene soon after the fire broke out, said: "I have never seen anything like it in my life, it was horrendous."

Several people reported seeing, or hearing, the windows blow out of the property, and saw smoke pouring from the front of the house.

About 15 firefighters attended the scene, and described the property as well alight when they arrived, but said the blaze was extinguished quickly. Crews using breathing apparatus discovered the casualty on the ground floor of the property.

Two appliances from Bishop Auckland, and one from Newton Aycliffe attended the blaze, along with several ambulances and police vehicles.

Susan Johnson, Chief Executive of the County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, said: "Our thoughts are with the lady's family and friends at this time."

A Durham Police spokeswoman said a joint investigation was taking place between the police and fire service, and that enquiries were at an early stage.

The cause of the blaze is not yet known.