Residents tried to break down the door of the Glasgow tenement to reach Lara McConville and her three-year-old child, also called Lara, but were unable to open it.

Firefighters found the body of the 31-year-old woman after they broke into the first floor flat in Guthrie Street, in the Maryhill area.

Her daughter was found unconscious and was dead on arrival at the city's Yorkhill Hospital.

She was a good lassie and her daughter was a lovely wee thing. Edward Kimmins

Neighbour Edward Kimmins, 60, said his family could smell smoke coming from the flat downstairs just after 0300 GMT on Friday.

Mr Kimmins said he and his grandson Dean traced the smoke to a vent in the living room window of the flat below and went down to see if they could raise the mother and her child.

He said: "My grandson tried to open the door but it wouldn't budge and I tried to bang it too but it was no good.

"I got my wife to phone the fire brigade and they were here right away.

"There were no flames, just black, heavy smoke out of a wee vent at the living room window."

Mr Kimmins said neighbours had been very fond of the woman and her daughter and were deeply upset by what had happened.

He said: "It's tragic, we're all heartbroken here. She was a good lassie and her daughter was a lovely wee thing."

'Such a tragedy'

Mr Kimmins' wife Isabel and neighbour Isabel Reilly were taken to hospital suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation but were released after treatment.

A distressed Mrs Kimmins said: "It is just such a tragedy, I really can't say anything else."

Strathclyde Police said an investigation had been launched into the cause of the blaze but there did not appear to be any suspicious circumstances.

A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

An investigation into the cause has begun

As fire investigators continued to look for the source of the blaze, there was shock and dismay on the faces of people in the area.

Some stopped to gaze at the smoke-blackened windows of the corner flat - the bathroom window, wide open - while others explained what had happened to passers-by who were puzzled by the police presence at the front door.

Linda McMillan, 47, who lives on the opposite side of the street, said she woke to the sound of police and fire brigade vehicles.

She said: "I could feel in the pit of my stomach that something was wrong.

"I can't believe what has happened, it's such a shock. I only saw her on Monday to give her a Christmas card."