AN ELDERLY woman died after an accidental fire began at her Poole bungalow, an inquest has heard.

Rita Josephine Hitchcock, who was 88, was killed in a blaze at the address in Bridport Road, Rossmore in late August.

An inquest into her death was opened and adjourned at the coroner's court in Bournemouth Town Hall on Wednesday afternoon.

Assistant Dorset coroner Brendan Allen heard Ms Hitchcock, a retired civil servant, died at the property after a neighbour heard smoke alarms sounding late at night on August 31.

Coroner's officer Susan Kay said: "This 88-year-old lady is believed to have accidentally started a fire at her home address.

"A neighbour heard an alarm and called the fire brigade after seeing smoke coming from the property sometime between 11pm and 11.15pm.

"The neighbour looked through a letterbox and saw smoke inside the address.

"Police were also called and officers attended."

Officers and firefighters got inside the bungalow using a spare key which another of Ms Hitchcock's neighbours kept for her.

"The lady was found face down on the lounge floor," Ms Kay said.

"A fire was extinguished and she was taken outside for CPR."

However, despite the efforts of the emergency services, Ms Hitchcock could not be saved, and she was confirmed to have died at 11.50pm.

A post-mortem was then carried out.

A cause of death has been given of multiple injuries and carbon monoxide intoxication, as well as 'severe burning', it was heard.

A full inquest into Ms Hitchcock's death will take place at the court in January next year.

Officials from the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said a representative will be present at the hearing next year.

"We were called at 11.18pm to a domestic property fire in Bridport Road," a spokesperson said.

"It was reported that a person was inside the property.

"The alert came from a neighbour who heard a smoke alarm activating.

"Three crews attended – one from Westbourne, one from Redhill Park and one from Springbourne."