A 55-YEAR-OLD woman was taken to hospital with serious injuries after fire crews battled for five hours to control a house fire at Fetter Hill on Sunday afternoon.

The woman, who has been named locally as Lesley Tickner, was air lifted to the major burns unit at Morriston hospital in Swansea with serious, life-threatening injuries.

Gloucestershire Police closed the road outside the property near Ellwood, Coleford as crews from Coleford, Lydney and Cinderford battled to control the fire which was in full blaze when they attended the scene just after 12pm.

A 12,000 litre water carrier was brought in from Cheltenham to help distinguish the fire.

The woman's grown-up children were at the house during or shortly after the incident.

Family members were clearing out the debris from the stone building on Monday morning, but declined to make any comment.

The fire is not believed to be suspicious.