Fire claims life of woman, 80
TRIBUTES have been paid to an elderly woman who died in a house fire.
Valda Linton, 80, died during the blaze at her home on Hulley Road in Hurdsfield, on Sunday morning.
An investigation into the cause has been launched by Cheshire Police and Cheshire Fire Service.
Members of her family paid tribute using the Express Facebook page.
George Braithwaite: “You’ll be forever in my heart nana.
“Such a strong woman. “I’m so sad yet so proud.”
Millie Scurrah: “My nana was the most amazing woman.”
Another tribute came from Dave Parker who said: “Val was such a lovely lady and funny and great to work with.”
Mrs Linton was described as a ‘lovely lady’ who would regularly be seen walking her dog Ellie.
One neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: “I’ve lived here for 28 years and known Val for all that time.
“She lived there alone after her husband died. used to see her out walking her dog. She loved her dog. She was a lovely lady.
“The fire was horrendous, there were flames coming out through the roof.
“I knew it was bad but can’t believe she’s died. It’s just so sad.”
Rosaleen Connor said: “So very, very sad.
IIThoughts are with her family. She was a lovely lady. RIP.”
Crews from Macclesfield, Congleton, and Poynton were called to the mid-terraced house at 7.30am.
They spent several hours battling to put the fire out and prevent it spreading to neighbouring homes.
Andy Humberstone, watch manager at Macclesfield Fire Station, said: “We arrived to find a fully enveloped fire.
“The front windows had been blown out and the living room was ablaze. The first floor was alight as well. “There was a lot of damage but would say am 80 per cent sure it started in the living room.”
Police cordoned off the street and neighbours
IIwere evacuated initially to a McDonald’s restaurant but some later stayed with relatives as investigations by police and fire officers continued into Sunday evening.
The Reverend Evan Cockshaw, vicar at Holy Trinity Church in Hurdsfield, said the fire had devastated the community.
He said: “It’s devastating for the family and the wider community.
“As a church we prayed for Valda during our morning service.”
Keith Wareham, 63, who lives nearby on Delamere Drive, said: “It’s shocking to see something like that so close to where you live and so sad to hear that the lady died.” Anyone with information can call police on 101, quoting incident 243