A PENSIONER was killed in a house fire this morning.

The woman was found dead by firefighters inside the burning property in Battle Road, Hastings, after receiving a call at 8.30am.

The fire started on the ground floor of the property and ripped through the first floor.

The woman’s exact age was not given, but East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service described her as “an elderly woman”.

A man was rescued by firefighters and two dogs were also in the house.

One of them was killed and the other survived.

At the peak of the blaze, 14 firefighters were present, with six engines on the scene.

The fire was extinguished by the afternoon, but crews remained at the property investigating.

The cause of the fire is currently unknown, and Sussex Police are assisting East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service with the probe.

A fire service statement said: “This particular fire presented crews with a number of difficult challenges and Assistant Chief Fire Officer Mark Andrews praised members of the public who assisted crews in accessing the building.

“He also highlighted the courageous operational response from both Sussex Fire Control and the crews who responded to the incident.

“An investigation in to the cause of the fire is ongoing in conjunction with the police, while crews remain on site damping down any hotspots and making the area safe.”