The pensioner killed when a faulty electric blanket caught fire has been named as Dorothy Rowland.

Mrs Rowland, 81, died from breathing in smoke after the blaze broke out in her home at Conway Drive, Banbury, on Saturday.

Firefighters were called by neighbours who spotted smoke pouring from an upstairs window and heard a smoke detector going off.

The house was searched by fire crews but Mrs Rowland was found dead in a first-floor bedroom.

Firemen said a smoke detector on the ground floor had activated but a second alarm on the first floor was not operating properly.

An inquest into her death will be opened and adjourned tomorrow.

Story date: Tuesday 09 March

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