INVESTIGATIONS are under way into a house fire that killed a North-East woman yesterday.

The woman, named locally as Estelle Teesdale, who was 52, died in the fire at Scott Street, in Shildon, County Durham, which broke out just after 12.30pm yesterday.

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”.

Dozens of shocked residents living nearby gathered at both ends of the street, which was cordoned off.

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.

“The flames were coming out of the downstairs windows. It was really upsetting.”

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

It is thought Mrs Teesdale lived at the property with her husband, Anthony, who is in his fifties, and a dog, which also died in the fire.

Mr Teesdale was uninjured during the incident, but was left severely shocked.

Neighbours said the couple had kept themselves to themselves since moving into the street last year, from elsewhere in Shildon, but said they were originally from Willington, in County Durham.

A section of Redworth Road was cordoned off for about two hours yesterday lunchtime to allow access for emergency vehicles, and part of Scott Street remained cordoned off for the rest of the day.

The brickwork of the terraced house was severely blackened, and there were charred pieces of black material hanging from the upstairs windows.

The drainpipes and guttering were also hanging from the building.

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 dead woman 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.

“The fire service aims to protect and educate the members of our communities about the dangers of fire.

“We all feel saddened when tragic events happen and we aim to do all we can to prevent such tragedies.”

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

The cause of the blaze is not yet known.

Investigations are expected to continue today, after the building has cooled down and is deemed safe to enter.

Shildon’s mayor, Gareth Howe, expressed his sorrow at the incident and passed on his condolences to Mrs Teesdale’s family.