A 93-year-old woman has died following a fire - and neighbour fears she did not hear the smoke alarm because she was hard of hearing.

Police have confirmed the pensioner died in hospital following the incident in The Green in Rottingdean on Friday, December 23.

Multiple emergency service vehicles including three fire engines were called to the scene of the blaze.

The Argus understands it was in a sheltered housing building for the elderly in the centre of the village.

The woman’s next of kin have been informed and the matter has been passed on to the coroner.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: “Police were called to assist the fire service at a fire in The Green, Rottingdean, at around 6.45am on Friday, December 23.

“A 93-year-old woman was taken to hospital where she sadly passed away. Her next of kin, and HM Coroner, have been informed.

“An investigation is ongoing alongside East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service to determine the cause of the fire, which is not being treated as suspicious at this time.”

A spokeswoman for East Sussex Fire and Rescue service confirmed the joint investigation was ongoing and said initial findings indicated that the fire was caused by accident.

Fire crews pulled the woman from the building and she pwas passed into the care of South East Coast Ambulance Service.

She was taken to hospital but died later as a result of her injuries.

The Argus: Rottingdean High StreetRottingdean High Street (Image: Google Street View)

A neighbour in the sheltered housing building told The Argus he believed the woman was hard of hearing and feared that “she didn’t hear the alarm go off”.

The neighbour also suggested that the incident might have started in the woman’s room.

At the height of blaze traffic through the village faced delays as emergency vehicles responding to the fire were blocking motorists travelling between Woodingdean and the A259.

The northbound section of Rottingdean High Street was closed for some time while police and fire crews dealt with the incident.