A WOMAN was killed in a fire last night.

It happened in a two storey house in Palmerston Road, Walthamstow, close to the junction with Melbourne Road.

Fire-fighters were called to the scene at around 8.45pm.

The blaze was reportedly under control by 9.08pm.

Police say the woman was 26-years-old but her family have not been informed of her death yet.

It is believed she was pulled from the house by fire-fighters but died outside.

The road is still closed off between Forest Road and Melbourne Road this morning while police investigate.

No further details about the woman have been released.

No-one else was injured.

Police say they are investigating but have not said whether they think it was suspicious or not.

It is thought the woman may have been living in the house with her husband and children, but that they were not present at the time of the blaze.

A spokeswoman for the fire service said part of the ground floor was damaged in the fire.

Abdul Shakoor, 59, lives opposite the scene.

He said: "It's very sad. I didn't realise anything was going on until I heard all the fire engines.

"When I came out my house I couldn't see any smoke or flames, but there were lots of fire engines, police and so on.

"I didn't know them personally but a family live there, I think there are quite a few children, maybe four, five or six. But we heard only the woman was inside.

"It's so sad. Everyone is very shocked by it."

Three fire engines and around 15 firefighters all rushed to the scene, as did police and the London Ambulance Service.

Crews from Tottenham, Leyton and Stoke Newington fire stations all attended.

Police say they do not know exactly when the road will reopen.

A date for a post mortem has not been set.

The incident was one of three serious fires in the borough last night.

Both Leyton and Chingford fire stations are currently operating with one engine each.

Brigade bosses removed two vehicles from the borough as part of contigency plans during a strike by its workers last year, but are yet to return them.

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