Tributes have been paid to an Old Basford woman known as “The Sweet Lady” who was found dead after a fire at her home.
Neighbours called 999 and smashed their way into her terraced house on Wilton Terrace on Wednesday morning after she failed to answer her door.
She was discovered unconscious inside the smoke-filled property around 9.30am, although the fire had already gone out.
Fire crews, an ambulance and police arrived shortly afterwards but she was pronounced dead.
Neighbours said the 80-year-old’s name was Sheila, but she was also known as ‘The Sweet Lady’ for often standing on the street to hand out sweets to passing school children.
Linda King, who knew Sheila through staying with her partner on the street, said: “She’d stand just there [on the corner of Wilton Terrace and Wallis Street] and give every single child that came past a sweetie.
“It was my partner that found her – he smashed the glass in the door with a hammer, but it was too late. She opens her curtains at six every morning. That morning they were still closed so we knew something was up.
“She will be so missed by everyone around here. Everyone knew her and some of us did bits of shopping for her.”
Notts Police and Notts Fire and Rescue Service investigated the cause and say a small fire was started accidentally in the kitchen but had already gone out when crews arrived.
The property was smoke damaged in the incident and a post mortem examination is due to take place to try to establish exactly how the woman died.
No further details have been released but neighbours said firefighters told them a candle may have started the fire.
Tanya Munro, who also lives on the street, said: “She was absolutely lovely and knew everyone around here. She’d stood on the corner giving sweets to the kids for years. She’d do it when they were all coming back from the school.
“She lived on her own but her family would come and help her out. We’re all missing her already.”
Dozens of bunches of flowers along with sweets and cards have been left outside the house by well-wishers.
Police have informed Nottinghamshire’s Coroner’s Office of the death, which will make a decision on whether an inquest should be held to establish more details of her death.
