Tributes have been paid to a 37-year-old woman who died in a house fire in Greater Manchester where her four children survived.

Kate Mulcahy was found dead inside her home in Middleton after a fire broke out early on Sunday morning. It is understood she had two sons – one-year-old twins – and two daughters, and that a number of the children were in the house and managed to escape the blaze.

Emergency crews, including police, fire and paramedics, were called at 4.22am to the property at Ramsden Farm off Round Thorn Road but were unable to save Mulcahy, who was discovered deceased inside.

Formal identification has not yet taken place and an investigation is under way to establish the circumstances of the fire, a spokesperson for Greater Manchester police said.

Friends have described feeling “absolutely heartbroken” as they flooded Facebook with tributes, according to the Manchester Evening News. Farrah Terris wrote: “Absolutely heartbroken my lifelong friend. You was the best matey. Love you forever xx.”

Charley Rose wrote: “Heartbreaking! I can’t stop thinking about you Kate! You were one of the nicest souls I’ve ever met! Beautiful inside and out.”

A neighbour, Carol Duggan, told the newspaper she was shocked to discover Mulcahy had died in the blaze. “I only spoke to her a couple of weeks ago when she was walking home with the children. She was very friendly.

“I would be walking with the dog and she would be walking with the children. I spoke to her every time I saw her. It’s terrible,” she told the newspaper.

Another neighbour described it as a “tragedy”, adding: “It’s absolutely horrendous, how sad. Those poor babies. There are no words.”

On Monday, a local councillor, Dylan Williams, posted on Facebook: “Heartbreaking news … My thoughts and prayers are with the deceased family and friends. 30s is truly no age at all.”

He said fire crews had attended from all over north-east Greater Manchester.

“I have received a briefing from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, and a full joint investigation with Greater Manchester police is now taking place into the incident. The exact cause leading up to the incident is not yet known.”

He added that the local fire brigade would offer home fire safety assessments to neighbouring properties as part of “community reassurance efforts”.