A village is in shock after a blaze believed to have been caused by a burning cigarette ravaged a woman’s home, killing the 59-year-old mum.

The woman, named locally as Sandra Barstow, was found unconscious in her bedroom after firefighters battered down her front door.

They tried in vain to revive her at the scene of the blaze in Collier Lane, Baildon, but she died later after reaching Airedale Hospital.

Her next door neighbour, an elderly man, called the emergency services when he saw smoke pouring from the house.

He told the T&A yesterday: “I was upstairs and smelled smoke and I thought something was burning downstairs in my house.

“When I went downstairs and opened the door, there was smoke coming from next door. I called for help and the firemen smashed through the front door.”

The man, who did not want to be named, said: “I’m just still in a state of shock and I haven’t slept.”

Firefighters from Shipley, Bingley and Idle rushed to the scene at just before midnight on Wednesday. A crew of six wearing breathing apparatus went through the front door.

After checking inside they found Mrs Barstow, who is understood to have three grown-up children, unconscious in her bedroom.

More firefighters went through the side door of the large semi-detached house to help dowse the flames.

A West Yorkshire Fire Service spokesman confirmed the fire had been started by a discarded cigarette.

Scorch marks from the flames were still visible around an upstairs window and the front door had been boarded up yesterday.

Watch manager Alan Holdsworth, of Shipley fire station, said the blaze was “under investigation” but added that no smoke alarms had been fitted at the house.

Baildon Lib Dem Councillor John Cole, said: “I want to express my sympathies to the family. It is tragic that anyone should die in such terrible circumstances.”

Conservative Councillor Roger L’Amie added: “I am genuinely sorry and shocked that this accident has happened. It must be a difficult time for friends and family.”

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said initial investigations showed there were “no suspicious circumstances.”