Surrey Woman Dies after being Found in Flames at a Level Crossing

A teenager died engulfed in flames on a London street in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The 18-year-old was found by police and fire brigade crews at a level crossing on West Barnes Lane in New Malden at 1am outside a shop.

The fire was extinguished, but she died at the scene. A police spokeswoman said that she had suffered burns to every part of her body.

The woman has not been formally identified, but her next of kin have been informed of her death.

Police believe the fire started at a nearby residential property in Linkway. They believe she fled the house on fire, before collapsing onto the street.

Layla Hamid told the Daily Mail: "I heard initially what I thought was a fox making a noise or an animal in pain.

"I heard four separate screams - the first one right outside the house and then more screams in the road and then behind me on the level crossing.

"Now that I know what it was, I feel chilled to the bone. She must have been in so much pain."

A police spokesman said the death appeared "non-suspicious" but appealed for any witnesses.

The road was closed until midday whilst police combed the scene for clues.

The cause of the fire and circumstances of the death are being investigated by officers in Merton, and by London Fire Brigade.

A post-mortem examination has yet to be arranged.

Scotland Yard confirmed that the 18-year-old woman had a young son, who was being looked after by relatives when she died and remains in their care.