FIREFIGHTERS smashed their way into a blazing flat in a vain bid to save the life of a 61-year-old grandmother.

The body of Mrs Doreen Theresa Dean was pulled from the flamed-filled ground floor flat in Melrose Road, Radcliffe, on Wednesday morning and firefighters and paramedics managed to revive her.

But the mother-of-two was taken to Bolton Royal Infirmary where she later died from severe smoke inhalation. An investigation has now been launched into the cause of the house fire.

Son David Brennan, a company director who lives in Bury, paid tribute to his mother, whom he described as "fun-loving".

Speaking on behalf of his family, including his sister Clare, he said: "She was larger than life. She had a very dry sense of humour and always had us in stitches. My mum loved her grandchildren and spent as much time as possible with them.

"She was a loving, caring woman who chose her friends wisely and we and everyone who knew her are heartbroken by her passing."

Mrs Dean, a divorcee, who had four grandchildren, had lived in Radcliffe for more than 30 years.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus had to smash their way into her flat at 7.45am yesterday following a call from neighbours.

Assistant divisional officer John Henry, who is leading the probe into the fatal fire, said the cause was still under investigation.

He said: "Officers were sent into the flat and they had to force an internal door which was blocked from the opposite side by furniture. Mrs Dean was found on the floor in the centre of the living room. She had not suffered any burns but she had obviously been overcome by thick smoke.

"She was given emergency resuscitation outside and we managed to find a pulse. The lads were quite obviously upset when we learned she had died."

Although mystery surrounds the cause of the fire, police investigators have ruled out any suspicious circumstances concerning Mrs Dean's death.

An inquest is expected to be opened later next week.