The woman, who has not been formally identified but is understood to be Susan Woods, is thought to have been home at Carterford Drive, off St Clements Hill, Norwich when a blaze ripped through the detached property at about 4.30am.

Firefighters in attendance at the property in Carterford Drive, Norwich (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest) As night gave way to daylight the extent of the damage caused quickly became evident with large parts of the roof missing as a result of the blaze.

The damaged roof of the property in Carterford Drive, Norwich (Image: Submitted) Shocked neighbours were awoken as emergency services - including police and seven fire crews - raced to the scene in the early hours of Thursday (December 26) morning.

A 46-year-old man, who did not want to be named, lives a few doors away and said they had gone to bed after celebrating Christmas Day with family and friends but was woken a few hours later by the "lights" of fire engines that had come to tackle the blaze at about 4.30am.

He said he knew the woman who lived at the property as Susan who was a "retired school........

© Norwich Evening News