A witness has spoken of how she ran to help and saw the flames that killed her bedbound neighbour on Saturday night.

The elderly victim, named locally as Patricia Bond, died in the fire in Fir Tree Close, Epsom Downs, but her husband David was rescued by a mystery taxi driver.

A neighbour said: "I came out, saw the smoke and went down. At that point they had managed to get Mr Bond out of the house with his frame.

"I ran home and got my son’s duvet and bedding and went back and covered him up to keep him warm. It was terrible, very sad. Awful, awful."

It was very cold outside and because of the shock, she said everything seemed to happen very quickly.

She said: "All you could see is flames and flashing lights everywhere. You have got paramedics, fire engines, ambulances, police cars. You have got people, you have got panic."

The neighbour said she had sometimes brought round the couple’s shopping from the nearby Londis. Mrs Bond was confined to a hospital bed in the lounge and carers visited her in the mornings and evenings.

Saturday night: 'Bedridden' elderly woman killed in fire - taxi driver saves man

Please send tributes to Mrs Bond to alice.foster@london.newsquest.co.uk