The inquest of 87-year-old Irene Cockerton who died after a fire in a Hinchley Wood retirement home will finally take place next month – more than two and a half years after her death.

Mrs Cockerton, a former lunchtime supervisor at what is now Epsom and Ewell High School, died inside her flat in Gibson Court on September 30, 2011.

Her inquest is expected to last a week at Woking Coroner’s Court starting on May 6.

Mrs Cockerton’s daughter Ann Fox said: “We’re grateful that it’s arriving because it has been a long time and we can get closure.

“On the night everyone did everything they could and the people involved were brilliant.

“The fire brigade were fantastic. I can’t fault anybody along the line."

She said they were pleased that Mrs Cockerton’s ashes had been placed with the ashes of her husband, which she had kept in her flat in Gibson Court, on their wedding anniversary on April 22 six months after she died.

Mrs Fox said: "I just want to put mum to rest."