AN 83-year-old woman died in a house fire in Rossendale today.

Police said it was a tragic accident as it appeared a cigarette was to blame.

The ‘smouldering cigarette’ is believed to have set fire to the chair in which the woman was sitting.

Firefighters were called to the end terrace in Tong End, Whitworth, at 3pm yesterday.

Detective Sergeant Mark Gillibrand said the woman’s name could not yet been released as next of kin were being informed.

He said: “There is nothing to suggest there was anything suspicious about the fire and that is anything other than a tragic accident.

“It appears as though it has started from a smouldering cigarette.”

He added that the pensioner was in the living room when the fire started.

Firefighters said a member of the public had called in the blaze and crews from Bacup, Rawtenstall and Hyndburn were sent.

Kathy Stacey, from Lancashire Fire and Rescue, said the crews were at the scene within six minutes.

She said paramedics tried to revive the woman for 25minutes but were unable to resuscitate her.

Firefighters then alerted police to conduct an investigation into her death.

By 8pm, in conjunction with the fire service, it was declared an accidental fire.