A CORONER is demanding Bury social services fit smoke alarms in the homes of all of its vulnerable and disadvantaged clients, after a fatal house fire in Whitefield.

Mr Simon Nelson said it was "incredible" that Bury Council did not take advantage of a service provided by firefighters to supply and install the life-saving devices, which normally cost as little as £5 per unit, for free.

His comments came during an inquest into the death of a Whitefield spinster who died with her pet dog at her feet in a house fire last year.

Despite being under the care and supervision of Bury's social services, Miss Ruth Shapiro, who had suffered from mental health problems and depression for years, had discussed the matter of having domestic smoke alarms fitted only once with her social worker. Miss Shapiro refused to have an alarm fitted.

Mr Nelson said: "I am aware of the publicity in the local and national press as to the benefits of having domestic fire alarms fitted.

"I find it incredible that where someone is determined as vulnerable and seen on a regular basis by care staff, that there is no provision for smoke alarms to be fitted in private properties. I will be writing to the local authority and the director of social services about my views in the hope they will be acted upon.

A fire investigation into the March 2003 tragedy said Miss Shapiro and her dog, Rebel, died from smoke inhalation after a fire broke out in the kitchen of her home in Dalton Avenue.

Assistant Divisional Officer John Henry said it was likely that the heavy smoker had accidentally emptied an ashtray into a bin bag, unaware that a cigarette was still smoking. The former clothes shop assistant manager was found by firefighters sitting in an armchair with Rebel dead at her feet in the smoke-filled rear living room.

During the inquest at Bury, Detective Inspector Simon Collier of Whitefield CID said he had launched a criminal investigation into the fatal blaze after witnesses claimed the fire started in a pile of rubbish outside the rear of the house. Also, Miss Shapiro's friend Ian Comrie was seen at the scene as firefighters tackled the blaze at 6am on March 18.

DI Collier said: "I thought it was strange that Mr Comrie was at the scene at such an early hour considering he lived five miles away. He later volunteered to be interviewed and he was very co-operative. We also later established that he had caught a bus from his home in Manchester and arrived in Dalton Avenue after the fire had started and after the emergency services had arrived.

"Our investigation concluded that there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding Miss Shapiros death."

Coroner Mr Nelson said Mrs Shapiro suffered a "traumatic death due to a fire in the home."