A WOMAN trapped in her blazing bungalow perished despite a desperate attempt by firefighters to reach her.

Flames ripped through the modern detached bungalow at Meadow Grange, Haltwhistle, as neighbours looked on helplessly.

The victim, in her 50s and named locally as Ann Mulgrove, was alone in the house with her two pet dogs, which were rescued by firefighters.

Her husband, a postman in Haltwhistle, was out on his rounds when the blaze broke out.

Mrs Mulgrove, an ambulance driver for the elderly, has two daughters and was due to become a grandmother within weeks.

Yesterday, as forensic and fire investigation officers sifted through the debris of the bungalow, police said relatives of the dead woman were still being contacted.

Insp Dave Thornhill of West Tynedale Police said last night that formal identification of the victim would not be completed until today at the earliest. Investigations went on all day yesterday to try to determine the cause of the blaze.

Insp Thornhill, dismissing reports of an explosion before the blaze, said: “We have been carrying out forensic examinations to try to establish the cause of the fire and those investigations are still continuing. The fire itself did not take long to control but the work at the scene on the day took several hours more. We hope to be able to release more information later today.”

A neighbour living opposite the scene, who asked not to be named, said: “I saw smoke coming out of the roof of the garage and it spread along the rest of the bungalow very quickly. The Fire Brigade were there within minutes – before anyone else could attempt to get into the house. The lady’s husband is a postman in the town and he was out at work when it happened. She kept two little dogs and they were rescued, but sadly the firemen couldn’t get to her.

“I don’t know the circumstances or anything about the cause of the fire, but it’s a terrible tragedy.”

“She worked on the ambulances for the elderly, taking them around, and was a very pleasant lady,” the neighbour added. “I’ve lived here for eight years, the houses were built about 14 years ago, and they were living here before I came. She was going to be a grandmother very soon and she was so much looking forward to that.”

At the peak of the blaze, flames leapt high into the air through the roof.

Fire crews from Haltwhistle, Hexham and Brampton fought the fire, bringing it under control within two hours.