THE woman who died in a house fire in Kingswinford has been identified as Gillian Nash.

Wheelchair-bound grandmother Mrs Nash was confirmed dead at the scene of the tragedy last Thursday night (September 12).

The fire ripped through the ground floor front bedroom of the property.

It is believed to have started accidentally – with West Midlands Fire Service saying the blaze was linked to TV equipment.

Mrs Nash’s son Adam said on Facebook that his mother had “impacted and enriched the lives of so many” and had “left a lasting impression on the hearts of countless people”.

He described her as a “woman of grace, love and faith…always smiling and always putting others first”.

Dr Tony Stone, former senior pastor from William Street Church in Brierley Hill, said he knew Gillian from her younger days and that her father Harry Bishop had been an elder of the church; and later, with her husband John, she was involved in youth work in Dudley.

He added: “She was just a fantastic lady and she touched the lives of many people.”

West Midlands Fire Service said a man survived the blaze and had managed to escape the property by the time emergency services arrived. He was treated by ambulance staff after suffering minor smoke inhalation and did not require hospital treatment.

A spokesman for the fire service said the first crew arrived on the scene in just over four minutes - just after 9pm - and added: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends affected by this incident."

The cause of death has not yet been confirmed but a spokesman for West Midlands Police said there were no suspicious circumstances.

An inquest is expected to be opened within the coming days.