Elderly woman dies after fire

AN ELDERLY woman has died after a fire in her cottage in a sheltered housing complex.

Irene Herpich, 74, was found dead in her bed at Nether Dechmont Cottages, in Livingston, just after 10pm on Saturday.

It is believed that the fire started in the bed, although firefighters are still investigating.

A heat detector in the property at Nether Dechmont Cottages activated, and West Lothian Careline, which monitors vulnerable people through a home safety service, alerted the fire service.

A spokeswoman for Lothian and Borders fire service said that the fire was not thought to be suspicious.