Tributes are paid to loving mother who died before a fire started in her Kingswinford home

"She was a loving, caring and devoted mother who lived for the family."

These were the words of Timothy Williams, whose 82-year-old mother Edith Williams died before a fire started in her house.

The ground floor blaze broke out at Mrs Williams' house in Catesby Drive, Kingswinford, just after 11.15pm on November 14.

An inquest held at Black Country Coroner's Court heard Mrs Williams died before a fire started from a dropped cigarette took hold.

Neighbours tried to put out the blaze through the ground floor window before emergency services arrived, but it was too late.

Her two sons Timothy and John spoke of their mother, who was a former bakery assistant but had previously been a chainmaker in Lye, as someone who was always there for them.

Tim Williams, from Wall Heath, said: "She was someone who even if you went around at 3am and asked for a fry up she would cook it.

"She had been to see three spiritualists in her life who all told her she would die at 82.

"She had been very ill a lot of times and lost weight, but she hit 82 on November 8 and it seemed that after that she knew she didn't have long to go. She was a wonderful lady who lived for the family."

A statement from Lee Scott-Richards, fire officer, said: "She was sat back into the armchair with evidence of burns to her clothes but there was no evidence that she was aware of the fire or had tried to make an escape or put it out.

"Therefore it seemed that the death occurred before the fire was established."

Senior Coroner Zafar Siddique gave a conclusion of death by natural causes.