Investigators believe a fire tragedy in a Sheringham bungalow at the weekend was an accident.

The body of a woman aged about 80 was discovered at the scene of the blaze, in Beeston Road, Sheringham, after reports of a fire on Saturday at about 4pm.

A spokesman for the fire service said they had concluded their investigations on Monday afternoon and believed the fire to have been accidental. The victim has not yet been named.

An ambulance service spokesman said: 'Several resources were sent but then stood down once it was clear the patient, aged about 80 and who was in cardiac arrest –unconscious and not breathing – could not be saved.'

Neighbours in the quiet residential area all said the bungalow was the home of an elderly woman who did not mix with, or talk to, others and was rarely seen.

The bungalow, at the junction of Beeston Road with Robertson Close, was taped off after the fire and a police officer stood guard on the pavement while police and fire investigators worked inside.

Police carried out door-to-door enquiries in the neighbourhood on Saturday evening, asking residents if they had seen anything suspicious.

One woman, who did not want to be identified, told the News: 'It's very sad. She never spoke to anybody or had anything to do with anybody round here. I think she bought the bungalow about two years ago.'

Another neighbour said he had seen an occasional taxi turn up and had supposed it was for the woman. 'The rest of the neighbours round here all know each other but, maybe because her property faced another way, none of us knew her. I was astounded when I heard what had happened.'

Another man said he had helped the woman move boxes into her bungalow from her previous address in Sheringham about two years ago. But he had not got into conversation with her and had not spoken to her since. She had lived alone but he thought she might have a daughter.