A 59-YEAR-OLD Preston woman has been found dead after a blaze at her home.

Barbara Walmsley was discovered by firefighters in the bedroom of her detached house in Regent Drive, Fulwood.

A neighbour, an off-duty policeman, raised the alarm just after 8am when he saw smoke pouring from an upstairs window. Firecrews arrived to find another officer had broken down the back door.

Mrs Walmsley was lying dead at the side of her bed but the fire, which had gutted the room, was already out. Fire crews believe Mrs Walmsley had been smoking in and fallen asleep.

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