Inquest to open into Barrow fire death

Scene of the fatal house fire on Whalley Road in Barrow.

Her husband, Philip, who managed to escape the fire, remains in Royal Blackburn Hospital after suffering from smoke inhalation.

Police and fire crews from Clitheroe, Hyndburn, Padiham and Great Harwood were called to Barrow Gardens Farm after reports of a “severe” blaze.

On arrival, both floors were well alight and it took firefighters more than three hours to extinguish the fire and a further extensive search using specialist teams before Mrs Shaw’s body was found.

Takeaway at 90 High Street, Rishton, formerly Nelly Shaw's fish and chips

According to Blackburn Coroner’s Office, an inquest into Mrs Shaw’s death is set to open on Tuesday afternoon (March 10th).

Since the tragedy, tributes have been pouring in from local residents who remember Mrs Shaw as a “kind” and “well-liked” person.

It has also emerged Mr and Mrs Shaw ran a popular fish and chip shop in Rishton during the 1970s and ’80s. One of our readers, who grew up in Rishton, has fond memories of visiting the Shaws at their always busy chippy at 90 High Street. She described them as nice and kind people who often served children “free scraps”.

She said: “The chippy was always busy with people queuing down the street. People just called it ‘Nelly’s’ and I remember being jealous of their sons as I thought they would have Nelly fish and chips for tea every night.”

The couple later sold the business, which became a Chinese takeaway.