A weekly newspaper apologised to a woman after publishing photographs of a fire in her back garden – even though the press watchdog subsequently cleared it of any wrongdoing.

Joanne Millward complained to the Independent Press Standards Organisation after the Bucks Free Press published the images, taken from a neighbour’s garden with their permission.

Ms Millward said the photos showed her conservatory and was taken without her knowledge and consent, adding the accompanying article gave a misleading account of the blaze.

Complaining to the Independent Press Standards Organisation under Clause 1 (Accuracy), Clause 2 (Privacy) and Clause 4 (Intrusion into grief or shock) of the Editors’ Code of Practice, she said the newspaper should have contacted her, and neighbours, for comment.

One of the photos from the scene

The Free Press said its reporter had attempted to contact the complainant at her home, but was unable to reach her.

It had later published a follow-up article reporting an update from police about the incident, having initially received information from the fire service about the blaze.

It said all of the images were published to demonstrate the damage caused to the neighbour’s garden, in the context of her account, but offered to publish an apology for any distress, inconvenience or upset caused to the complainant by their publication.

IPSO found the photos were used to illustrate the neighbour’s account of the destruction caused by the fire, a matter of considerable public interest, but welcomed the offer to publish the apology.

It added the Free Press had been entitled to rely on the emergency services’ updates, and was not obliged to contact the complainant for her comment prior to publication.

The complaint was not upheld, and the full adjudication can be read here.