AN ELDERLY York woman was still fighting for her life today more than 24 hours after flames engulfed her ground floor flat.

York District Hospital staff treating Catherine Cochrane for serious burns in the intensive care unit, described her condition as "very, very poorly".

And it emerged today that City of York councillors have requested their officers to update them on the council's policy on smoke alarms in the light of yesterday's fire.

Today Bob Towner, director of community services, said that 5,500 smoke detectors had been fitted in council properties since 1995 when the authority made £100,000 available for tenants.

He said the building involved in yesterday's fire conformed to building and fire regulations when it was built and all new properties or modernisations are updated to conform to new standards.

Other occupants caught up in yesterday's drama at the block of six flats in Rogers Court, Foxwood, were treated for lesser injuries.

Alan Wynn had only left for work in Fulford minutes earlier. But, oblivious to the blaze, the 64-year-old groundsman received a sickening shock when he arrived back to find himself temporarily homeless.

Firefighters had forced their way into his flat, two storeys above the flames, to check it was unoccupied. Afterwards the door was sealed for safety.

A confused Mr Wynn told the Evening Press: "I can't believe it. I went to work in the morning and when I came home in the evening, the whole place is burned and I can't get in my flat. I don't know what's happened - I can't even tell what state my home is in.

"I'm due to retire in two months, but who knows what effect this will have on everything."

Mr Wynn, who lives alone, was put up in bed and breakfast accommodation overnight.

"We all know each other in this block, we're all friends. I don't know where I'm going to stay, but I'll have to go to the hospital and check on everyone else."

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