An elderly woman died after fire broke out in her Canterbury flat on Wednesday afternoon.

The 88-year-old was confirmed dead later in the evening, but police are not treating the incident as suspicious as investigations continue into the cause of the fire.

Crews from the city’s Green Watch were called to a three-storey sheltered accommodation block called Barton Mill Court in Station Road West around 4.45pm.

Initial reports suggested a fire alarm had been accidentally activated, but a fire on the first floor was confirmed soon after along with reports of a person inside the building.

Firefighters used breathing apparatus and a hose reel jet from a hydrant platform to tackle the blaze. Police also closed the road to traffic for a short time as a precaution.

The two pumps were stood down after bringing the fire under control shortly before 6pm.