An elderly woman has died in a fire in a block of flats in Spreydon, Christchurch.
Firefighters were called to the flats in Clent Lane just before 10.30pm on Thursday and the fire was well ablaze by the time they arrived.
Detective Sergeant Mark Keane says that after initial analysis of the scene, the fire does not appear to be suspicious and it is too early to comment on the cause.
The woman's name will not be released until formal identification has been completed.
A post-mortem examination is scheduled for Monday.
A neighbour found the woman on the lounge floor surrounded by flames, but it was too late to save her. She had lived in the complex for more than 14 years and had been ill recently, Fairfax Media reported, citing neighbours.
She was the only occupant of the flat, a Fire Service spokesman said.
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