Fatal house fire caused by electrical fault

Emergency services were called to a house in Leek at about 22:20 GMT on Saturday

A house fire that killed a woman in her 70s was caused by an electrical fault, investigators have said.

Emergency services received reports of smoke coming out of a home on James Street, Leek, at about 22:20 GMT on Saturday.

The woman was found unresponsive in an upstairs room after crews forced entry into the property and she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue said the cause of the fire was accidental.

"We'd like to extend our sincere condolences to the woman's family at this deeply traumatic time," the service said.