FIREFIGHTERS fought in vain to save a mum trapped in her burning Oxford home.

Mum-of-one Anne Llewellyn, 50, was unable to escape from the three-bedroom house, which was wrecked in minutes by the fire yesterday. Police were having to use dental records today to confirm her identity.

Eyewitnesses said windows of the house in Whitehorn Way, Blackbird Leys, were blown out by the intense heat. Fire officers wearing breathing apparatus braved scorching temperatures to search the house, before they found Mrs Llewellyn. Paramedics called to the scene just before midday were unable to revive her.

Police cordoned off the street while accident investigators began forensic tests in the burnt-out property to see if the fire had been started deliberately. British Gas Transco staff were also called to see if a gas leak had caused the blaze.

Joan Francis, 72, who lives several doors away from Mrs Llewellyn, said: "It all happened very quickly. "We saw smoke coming out of the house and went to take a closer look and then suddenly the windows blew out and the whole building seemed to go up in flames.

"There wasn't much noise but all the windows went at once. It was very upsetting."

Fellow neighbour Winifred Scott, 79, added: "Mrs Llewellyn used to speak to us on a regular basis when she went out. She was a very friendly lady and I can't believe she is dead.

"At first we thought she had managed to escape but now we realise that wasn't the case. I haven't stopped crying since this happened."

Divisional fire officer John Lowe, who attended the blaze with 19 other officers, said: "This was a very intense fire. The blaze appears to have started in the lounge area and officers using breathing apparatus went into the house to stop it spreading to neighbouring properties."

He added that an investigation was now under way to establish the cause of the fire but it was too early to say whether or not the fire was started maliciously.

Another neighbour, who asked not to be named, said Mrs Llewellyn's son, who is in his early 20s, often visited the house.

Forensic experts, detectives and fire officers were today still sifting through the wreckage trying to establish the cause of the blaze.

Police are appealing for witnesses to contact them on 01865 266310.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.