An elderly woman died following a house fire near Newquay yesterday.

Police, ambulance and fire crews rushed to the property in Ashton Court, St Columb Minor, at 2.30pm on Wednesday (May 25).

The 87-year-old woman was airlifted to the Royal Cornwall Hospital, Treliske, having sustained life-threatening burns but died at 3.30am today (May 26).

She was the only occupant in the property at the time of the fire. The road was closed to enable the air ambulance to land.

Neighbouring residents were evacuated but were allowed to return at 3.50pm. The road re-opened at 4.15pm.

Police and fire investigators are carrying out an investigation to establish how the fire started, but there are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances.

A file will be prepared for the coroner.

Anyone who can assist with the investigation is asked to [email protected] or call 101 quoting reference 448 of 25 May.