Young girl and grandmother die in Scottish fire

A teenage girl and her grandmother have died in a house fire and another person is recovering in hospital from smoke inhalation, Scottish police said today.

The 60-year-old woman and her 13-year-old granddaughter were found dead in the house in Dumfries and Galloway.

Police said the fire was reported shortly after 4am today.

A spokeswoman for Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary said police and fire officers were investigating the cause of the blaze.

The identity of the person taken to hospital was not being released but they are said to be suffering from smoke inhalation and shock. Their injuries are not said to be life threatening.

The woman who died alongside her granddaughter in the tragic fire was named by neighbours today as Ellen Simpson.

Mrs Simpson had moved to the cottage from another house in the village following the death of her husband around four years ago.

One neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said: “I did know the lady as I used to see her walking about.

“She was very nice and had just lost her husband four years since.

“She then moved from another part of the village to this house.”

Outside Mrs Simpson’s home – a white cottage – were two uniformed police officers.

Only the presence of the Pcs, police tape and the black handprints on the white front door gave any clue to the tragedy that had unfolded inside during the first few hours of New Year.

The village, on the edge of the picturesque Lowther Hills, was deserted, save for a few braving the wind and rain to clear the snow from their driveways and cars.

Wanlockhead is renowned throughout Scotland as the highest village in the country as it is 1,531ft above sea level.

:: In Glasgow, a 61-year-old man died following a fire at his flat in Gallowgate.

The man, who was alone in the property, was taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary but died a shortly afterwards.

Police said the fire which was reported at 5.45am was not suspicious.

A dropped cigarette was understood to have been the cause of the fire.