NEIGHBOURS battled in vain to save the life of a Southampton pensioner who collapsed and blocked the back door of her blazing home, an inquest was told.

Wheelchair-bound Queenie Benneyworth almost managed to stagger to safety from the ground floor of her Southampton house.

However, Queenie, 78, collapsed by the door and rescuers were unable to open it.

The hearing was told the blaze that broke out at the property in Florence Road, Woolston in February was probably caused by a faulty tumble dryer.

Queenie, a widow who lived at the two-storey house with son Derek and lodger Charlie Clark. The two men had both been in bed during the morning on the top floor when they heard her cries for help. She lived on the ground floor.

When they got to the landing, they saw thick smoke billowing up and had to flee by the front door.

Neighbours Paul Thickett and Dean Smith were alerted and rushed to the back door.

Police initially thought the blaze was suspicious but later ruled out any foul play, the inquest was told.

DS Bob Bowness said: "They ran to the rear of the premises and tried to gain access from the rear kitchen door.

"Unfortunately Queenie Benneyworth had managed to get out of her wheelchair and tried in vain to exit from the kitchen door.

"She fell just a few feet from safety."

He added the pair were unable to get Mrs Benneyworth out as she was blocking the door, even though she could still speak to them.

The blaze took further hold of the ground floor of the property and she was dead when fire crews arrived.

Fire investigators said the blaze started in a utility area where a tumbler dryer was kept and the house was severely damaged.

A post-mortem revealed the pensioner may have died from a heart attack. Coroner Keith Wiseman recorded a verdict of accidental death.