A woman has died in a fire at a caravan park on the second day of the latest firefighters' strike.

Striking crews left their picket lines to help military troops fight the flames in a mobile home in Bedminster, Bristol, in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Red and Green Goddesses were on the scene at the Locks Yard within minutes of the emergency call, but they were unable to save the 50-year-old woman.

People living in neighbouring caravans at the Locks Yard site in the Hartcliffe area of the city were evacuated in case the fire spread.

Serious blaze

Military crews were called in at 0311 GMT, arriving at the site in six minutes.

Shortly afterwards they were joined by striking firefighters from Bedminster fire station who brought two extra engines with them.

The crews worked together to put out the blaze before going into the mobile home and finding the woman's body.

Captain James Price, military spokesman for Avon and Somerset, said: "It was a serious blaze - at first it wasn't possible for crews to go in as it was too hot.

"Once the flames had been brought under control firefighters went in and unfortunately found the woman.

Investigation launched

"The mobile home was completely destroyed and the two on either side were severely damaged."

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said: "The fierce blaze was attacked by both military and regular firefighters.

"They managed to stop the fire spreading to nearby mobile homes and gas canisters.

"An investigation into the cause of the fire has been launched."

He said the woman who died would not been named by police until her relatives had been informed.