AN elderly pensioner died from burn injuries following a fire in the kitchen of her home, an inquest has heard.
The body of Maureen Challen, 86, of Othery, was later discovered by her friend and neighbour Julie Hillier.
The inquest was held in Taunton
The hearing in Taunton was told that Mrs Hillier found a pan smouldering on the oven hob, while the wooden back door was also smouldering.
She descried Maureen as "a lovely lady" who lived independently and cooked for herself and used a walking frame to help her get about.
Police said the pan on the hob had caused the fire which had been burning for some considerable time at her home in Rye Lane.
The coroner was told the fire may have started the previous day because the elderly victim had not slept in her bed or taken her medication.
A post mortem said she died on December 14 last year from exposure to fire.
Assistant coroner for Somerset Tim Hayden concluded that she died from burn injuries following a fire in her kitchen.
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