A partially disabled woman recovering from hip replacement surgery died when flames engulfed her bedroom.

Neighbours tried to rouse the woman by banging on the front door and windows before firefighters arrived but could not get in because of the intensity of the blaze.

A young family next door to the semi-detached bungalow in Brookside, Chalgrove, fled their home fearing the fire would spread.

Last night neighbours said the woman who lived in the house was Sheila Langsbury, 68, although the identity of the victim had not been officially released.

Mrs Langsbury lived alone in her two-bedroom home. She rarely went out of the house and was visited several times a day by carers, they said.

The alarm was raised just before 7pm on Tuesday by a passing motorist.

Smoke poured from the roof and flames were seen in the front bedroom. Firefighters from Wheatley and Watlington wearing breathing apparatus found the woman dead.

The bedroom and hallway were ruined and the other front bedroom, lounge, kitchen and bathroom were damaged by smoke and heat.

The property, owned by the Sovereign Housing Association, was taped off as police scenes of crimes officers in white suits and fire investigation officers carried out an examination to try to establish what caused the fire. One unconfirmed theory is that it may have been caused by Mrs Langsbury smoking in bed.

Robert Lynch, who lives next door, was in the bath and knew nothing of the drama unfolding until a neighbour banged on the front door telling him to get out.

He and his two daughters, Heidi, six, and three-year-old Alex, fled the bungalow and stayed with friends.

His wife Kathryn, 31, arrived back home to see the emergency services.

She said: "I saw flames in the bedroom and smoke coming out of the roof.

"People were outside shouting at the door and window trying to rouse Mrs Langsbury. They couldn't get into the bungalow because it would have been too dangerous.

"We were lucky because the fire service got the blaze under control and prevented it from spreading but had this happened during the night then our home may have been involved and our lives put at risk.

"It's a very worrying thought."

Mrs Lynch said her family had little contact with Mrs Langsbury, who had been in hospital early in the year for hip replacement surgery.

Mrs Lynch added: "She was not a well woman."

Another neighbour Margaret Williams, 57, added: "It was an awful sight. It was terrifying.

"Smoke was coming out of the roof and you could see flames in the front bedroom. Sheila was a quiet person who did not interfere with anyone.

"It is a tragedy. You don't want anyone to go like that. I'm very shocked and upset."

Bunches of flowers were laid on the front lawn.

One message read: "Sheila. We will always be thinking of you." Another simple message read: "God Bless You Sheila."