A woman aged in her 50s died after a fire started at a house in Dorchester.

The incident happened on Sunday night at a property in High Street, Fordington.

Police said the woman was taken out of the property but sadly died at the scene.

An investigation has been launched into the incident.

Police, firefighters and paramedics were all alerted to the scene.

A spokesman for Dorset Police said: “On arrival, officers discovered a woman aged in her 50s had been removed from the address.

“Very sadly, she was pronounced dead at the scene.

“Her family has been informed and the coroner has been notified.

“Officers are liaising with Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service as the cause of the fire is investigated.

“At this stage, the death is not being treated as suspicious.”

A spokesman for Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said the brigade received a call at 10.48pm reporting a fire.

She said: “We sent three crews to reports of a smoke alarm sounding in High Street, Fordington – the crews responding were two from Dorchester and one from Weymouth.

“Firefighters used two sets of breathing apparatus and one hose-reel jet to extinguish a small fire in a terraced property.”

A resident who wished to remain anonymous said he saw emergency service vehicles on the street on Sunday night.

He said: “I think there was a police cordon in place. They must have been there for about half an hour or so. I was quite concerned.”

A resident of Foundry Place, who wished to remain anonymous, said he heard alarms sounding outside his flat.

He thought the alarms were coming from the flats at Foundry Court, but it has since been confirmed by the fire service that the fire occurred at a terraced property.

The resident said; “It’s sad someone has lost their life. I thought it was a false alarm until I saw the vehicles and them putting the tape up.”

South Western Ambulance Service said crews they attended a private address at 10.55pm but gave no further details.

Cllr Tim Harries, who is one of the town councillors representing Fordington, said: “What a terrible tragedy. My heart goes out to the woman’s family and friends.”

Cllr Harries who lives on the same road, said he didn’t hear any emergency vehicles on Sunday night due to the weather.

He added: “It’s an awful thing to have happened, just awful.”