Woman dies at scene of 'accidental' house fire

A woman has died in what firefighters believe to have been an "accidental" house fire.

Neighbours raised the alarm in Smallwood Road, Colchester, at about 00:20 GMT after hearing a smoke alarm.

"On arrival firefighters reported a fire in a bedroom. Sadly a woman died at the scene," Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said.

A fire investigation concluded the blaze started accidentally on the ground floor of the maisonette.

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