�Tributes have poured in for an elderly woman who died after a fire broke out at the Hornchurch home she shared with her sister.

Betty Hussey, 84 who died after the blaze in Rosebank Avenue, Hornchurch on Wednesday February 22 has been described as a ‘lovely woman’ by her friend Joyce White.

Joyce said: “I was devastated when I heard about what happened.

Missed

“She was a lovely lady and I think she will be missed by everyone but most of all her sister.”

Betty was pronounced dead after the fire at her home at about 12.29pm.

Her sister, Irene, is currently being treated at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford for burns but is not believed to have been told about Betty’s death.

Joyce, who knew the sisters for 20 years, says that she became friends with them through the Romford Scottish Association, where Irene was the chairman up until 10 years ago.

The pair were also members of the Upminster Scottish Association.

Joyce said: “They were typical sisters, they got on well with each other most of the time but they had disagreements sometimes.

“They had very different personalities, Betty was slightly smaller and bit quieter while Irene was a bit more confident.”

The sisters were also animal lovers and had adopted a number of dogs from Wanderers Haven Aninal Sanctuary.

The founder of the charity, Frankie Wagstaff said that she met the sisters 30 years ago when their dog had died.

Devastated

Last year the sisters took in two dogs, a mother and daughter called Dolly and Lotty. Firefighters managed to save one of the sisters’ pet dogs, but one died. Frankie said: “They were a lovely pair, they loved their dogs who were their pride and joy and their babies.

“Everything was done for their dogs and they were very good to the charity over the years because they just loved animals.”

She added: “Irene will be absolutely devastated when she finds out what has happened to Betty; they did everything together and they were very independent.”