An elderly woman has died after suffering serious burns in a house fire at St Columb Minor near Newquay.

Police, ambulance and fire crews were sent to home in Ashton Court at 2.30pm yesterday.

The 87 year-old woman was airlifted to the Royal Cornwall Hospital, Treliske, having sustained what the police described as "life-threatening burns," and died at 3.30am this morning.

She was the only occupant in the property at the time of the fire, and her next of kin have been informed.

The road was closed to enable the air ambulance to land, and neighbouring residents were evacuated but were allowed to return at 3.50pm, before the road re-opened at 4.15pm.

A police spokesperson said: "Police and fire investigators are carrying out an investigation to establish how the fire started, however 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 email101@dc.police.uk or call 101 quoting reference 448 of 25 May.