COPS have paid tribute to the bravery of neighbours who tried to save a pensioner as during a fire at a house in Netherton.

Despite attempts to rescue her, the body of the 67-year-old woman was found in the downstairs front room of the house in Spring Road after emergency services arrived at the incident at around 7.40am on Thursday May 19.

The woman’s death is currently being treated as unexplained, a full scale investigation involving sniffer dogs was carried out at the scene throughout the day.

Sergeant Richard Narrowmore, from Dudley police, said: “I would like to commend the neighbours in Spring Road who valiantly tried to save this woman with little thought to their own personal safety.

“They alerted the authorities and assisted one of the occupants of the address while they awaited the arrival of the emergency services.

“We are at the very early stages of our investigation and we continue to appeal to anyone who was in the area and may have witnessed something to come forward.”

Another woman, aged 36, was taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.

Anyone with information that could help the police in their investigation should call West Midlands Police on 101.

Alternatively information could be left anonymously by calling Crimestoppers, the independent charity, on 0800 555 111.