A CORONER returned an open verdict into the death of a grandmother who died after a house fire and concluded there was "no evidence" of a deliberate blaze.

Yvonne McCorquodale, 66, was rescued from her home in Newbarns Road, Barrow, on July 15 last year, but she died at Whiston Hospital, Merseyside, almost a week later on July 21, 2015.

The inquest into the death of Mrs McCorquodale was halted in January for a police investigation. The hearing resumed Friday December 9 and was told that police and fire investigations found "no evidence" of the fire being started deliberately.

Neighbour James Brockbanks heard a window smash that evening and went outside to see smoke coming from a window of Mrs McCorquodale's house.

Mr Brockbanks banged on the front door and shouted through the letter box. Another man came to help and rang 999. The door was answered by Corin McCorquodale, a daughter of Mrs McCorquodale, who lived at the house and Mr Brockbanks heard her shouting "Mum, the house is on fire".

Miss Corin McCorquodale, who did not attend the resumed hearing, said in a statement she had been in the kitchen but went upstairs through smoke and shook her mum who was laying on the bed. She said Mrs McCorquodale did not come round and Miss Corin McCorquodale went to the front door in shock.

Mr Brockbanks attempted to go upstairs but said the heat was "unbearable", the wall paper was peeling off with the fire and there was thick smoke.

Police officers tried to douse the fire and get to where Mrs McCorquodale was trapped in her bedroom. Police Sergeant Andrew Travis made a number of attempts, managing to get to the top of the stairs, but was beaten back by the fire, wall of heat, thick black smoke and the ceiling starting to fall.

Firefighters from Walney and Ulverston used their breathing equipment and kit to reach Mrs McCorquodale and rescue her from her bedroom. Paramedics were waiting to treat her and she was taken to Furness General Hospital before being transferred to Whiston Hospital.

John Griffiths, a fire investigator and officer for Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service said the seat of the fire was on the landing between the box bedroom and Mrs McCorquodale's bedroom.

Mr Griffith said the fire service had found hoarding in the house, with plastic bags of items, shopping and waste. There was particularly a lot of bags on the landing which were very flammable and accelerated the fire. There had been no smoke alarm.

Miss Corin McCorquodale said her mum used candles. But the fire service could find no evidence of a candle causing the fire, but said that a candle could have been there.

Miss Deanne McCorquodale, also a daughter of Mrs McCorquodale, spoke at the inquest.

She said her major concern had been that her mum was trying to get out, but Mr Griffiths said she had been unconscious from the fumes and smoke. She came round after being seen by the paramedics.

Miss Deanne McCorquodale said her mum did hoard items, but mainly craft items and collectables. She and other family members said that had changed and got worse when Miss Corin McCorquodale had been living there.

Miss Deanne McCorquodale said the relationship with her sister is "non-existent" and she didn't visit her mum at the house.

Family members at the inquest had questioned why Miss Corin McCorquodale had not smelt the fire, not heard the window blow out and smash like the neighbours.

Miss Deanne McCorquodale said she was not convinced that her mum used candles. While clearing up the house between January and April she had found four large candles downstairs, two of them decorative ones that had been in the house for decades, but not a stock of candles.

During the inquest Miss Corin McCorquodale's ex-husband, Keith Pacey, suggest that Miss Corin McCorquodale may have started the fire deliberately.

Assistant Cumbria coroner Mr Robert Chapman said there was "no evidence" and it "was great leap". "I have to deal with evidence and not rumour", he said.

DC Scott Elliott was asked to look at issues raised after the inquest was halted and said there was no evidence of a deliberate fire.

Pathologist Dr LJ Fosyth said Mrs McCorquodale's cause of death was multiple organ failure, due to ischemic bowel, and also burns. Mrs McCorquodale had suffered 10 per cent burns.

Mr Robert Chapman recorded an open verdict and said there was "no clear evidence why the fire started" and "no evidence it was deliberate".

He said a small candle could have burned away and with all the clutter the fire would have developed "very quickly".

The assistant coroner said "a lot of bravery had gone on" in the rescue and thanked everyone who helped saying they "were enormously brave" and "there should be very proper praise".

Mrs McCorquodale's family also thanked everyone for their bravery

After the inquest Miss Deanne McCorquodale, said her mum, a former Girl Guides volunteer, "wanted to help everyone", and was "popular and lovely".

"I really want to thank the emergency services, the doctors and everyone who tried to help.

"They gave us the chance to say goodbye, she was surrounded by her family."