A woman who died after suffering severe burns in a house fire couldn't move because of severe osteoporosis, an inquest heard.

Sandra Hennessey, who lived alone at her Edenbridge home, was found trapped inside in February by firefighters who were called to the address.

Due to her restricted mobility and health problems the 56-year-old hadn't moved from the sofa she was sitting on which had caught alight, starting the blaze.

At an inquest into her death at Gravesend Old Town Hall, the court was told Miss Hennessey had previously taken medication for osteoporosis but it was stopped six months before the fire.

She also received assistance from her carer, John Boakes, on a regular basis as she struggled moving around the property after previously breaking both ankles and a hip.

Mr Boakes alerted the fire service after hearing smoke alarms in the background of a phone call with Miss Hennessey on February 14.

Detective Sargent Ian McCarthy, who gave evidence at the hearing on Friday, said she previously had manic and emotional episodes in which she would climb on furniture and shout out.

The court heard she spent some time at Priority House in Maidstone, but was discharged and was not diagnosed with any mental health illness.

Senior coroner Roger Hatch was told there had been previous fire incidents at the property and cigarette burn marks were found on Miss Hennessey's sofa - where she slept - and the surrounding carpet.

DS McCarthy told the court the fire service previously intervened and tried to reduce the risk of fire by providing a metal bin, a fire-proof blanket which Miss Hennessey slept with, and installing a number of new smoke alarms.

Crews also told the 56-year-old she needed to take more care with a plastic trolley she used to help her move around the flat - which the court heard was also used as an ash tray and had a number of burn holes.

Cigarettes, matches and an ash tray were found on the sofa where Miss Hennessy had been lying. It suffered severe fire damage and the smoke detectors in the living room were melted by flames.

DS McCarthy said there were already burn marks on furniture caused by matches or cigarettes and the fire was a result of human action, possibly caused by smoking material being dropped on the sofa.

He said a scene investigator believed Miss Hennessey was careless with cigarettes and matches and her death was accidental.

Roger Hatch recorded the cause of Miss Hennesy's death as misadventure.

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