A woman has died after suffering life-threatening burns in a fire at a Southbourne flat.

Emergency services were called to Cranleigh Road at 4.30pm on Sunday to reports of the blaze.

A woman aged in her 70s was taken to Royal Bournemouth Hospital but she died a short time later. Her next of kin have been informed and the coroner notified.

Her death is not being treated as suspicious. Dorset Fire and Rescue Service are carrying out an investigation into the cause of the fire on behalf of the coroner.

A South Western Ambulance Service spokesperson confirmed the casualty was taken to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital with “very serious burns".

Another patient was treated at the scene, but did not need to be hospitalised.

Fire incident commander, group manager Stuart Granger said the service received reports that “thick black smoke was coming out of the windows of one of the flats”.

“We were soon made aware that a person was inside,” he said.

“On arrival the crews found a developed fire and they requested further resources which involved three further appliances from Westbourne and Poole.

“We also had our colleagues from the Red Cross fire emergency support service and ambulance and police.

“Three crews using breathing apparatus were sent in to search the building. Crews located one elderly lady and rescued her from the property.

“The initial call was raised due to the fire alarm system going off in the block. We would like to remind people of the importance of checking your smoke alarms.

“Fire investigators are on site and they will be conducting their investigation with the police.”

Police cordoned off Cranleigh Road at its junctions with Watcombe Road and Irving Road.

Multiple fire engines, ambulances and police vehicles were at the scene.

Graham Vey was walking to the Co-op shop on Cranleigh Road when he came across the drama.

He said: “We saw the firefighters pumping tonnes and tonnes of water in through the window of a ground floor flat – so much so that the water was gushing out of the door and flowing down the road like a river.

“I saw four fire engines, some police cars and an ambulance was leaving with someone in the back and another ambulance was arriving.”