A fire gutted the roof of a care home in Chingford. Image: Chris Janes

A resident trapped in a fire at a care home in Connington Cresent, Chingford, has died.

Eight residents and four carers managed to vacate the property before emergency services arrived.

The blaze started around 2.15am and took fire crews over three hours to extinguish.

Over 70 firefighters and officers are now at the scene of the flat
fire on Connginton Crescent #Chingford. More here https://t.co/DYqVpho5Iv Pic from @LAS_HART colleagues. pic.twitter.com/hKNZCS0gQ9

— London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) April 20, 2018

A women found in the building was treated by paramedics, but pronounced dead at the scene.

Police have said it is currently unclear how the fire started.

Ten fire crews from nearby areas of North London attended the scene, with several expected to be attending the site well into the day.

The alarm was raised by a neighbouring property.

Fire crews will stay onsite to help investigators. Image: Chris Janes

Local MP and former Conservative Party Leader, Iain Duncan Smith, has described the death as a ‘terrible tragedy.’

The care home run by the Sequence Care Group, contains two supported living services.

Residents there have learning disabilities including autism and complex long term conditions.

Police have stopped traffic and pedestrians from entering the scene while investigations are ongoing. Image: Chris Janes

Richard Janson is the fire station manager at Chigwell and his crew also attended the fire.

He has confirmed that specialist fire investigators in the building ‘are working in close liaison the police officers to find out what the cause of the blaze is and what the circumstances were which led to this tragic fatality.’