An investigation has been launched after a woman died following a house fire in County Durham.
Crews from County Durham & Darlington Fire & Rescue Service were called to a house fire on Shafto Way in Newton Aycliffe at approximately 3am on Thursday. Fire engines from Newton Aycliffe and Darlington attended the scene.
Firefighters carried the elderly woman from the house and started CPR but, sadly, she was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.