AN ELDERLY woman who suffered horrific burns in a blaze at her Townsend home nearly two months ago has died in hospital.

The woman’s injuries were blamed on a fire started by discarded smoking materials.

Crews were called to sheltered accommodation, Castle Dene Court, in Jewell Road on the morning of Saturday, September 29.

Firefighters discovered that the woman’s sofa had caught fire from a cigarette and she was rushed by ambulance to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

The woman was known to her neighbours by her first name Anne only.

Len Jordan, 72, said the residents at Castle Dene Court were all “very shocked”.

He said: “She was a friendly and kind person and if she could help you she would.

“She was a lovely person and we all miss her but at least she’s not in pain now.”

Her injuries were so serious that she was transferred by helicopter to a specialist unit at Salisbury District Hospital.

After that the victim was moved to a hospital in Swansea, South Wales, where she died earlier this week.

Bournemouth and East Dorset Coroner Sheriff Payne has been informed of the death and a post mortem examination was due to be carried out in Swansea today.

At the time of the blaze, a spokeswoman for Dorset Fire and Rescue said: “The fire is believed to have been started by smoking materials and we would like to remind people of the need to safely dispose of cigarettes and ensure they have working alarms.”

Neighbours were evacuated from the property during the blaze.