An elderly man has died after a blaze swept through part of his Shropshire home despite the efforts of a neighbour to rescue him from the flames.

The neighbour was beaten back by thick smoke and severe heat from the fire at the bungalow in Yeaton, near Baschurch, last night.

The victim, who was confirmed dead at the scene, was today named locally as John Staples.

The alarm was raised at about 11pm by neighbours, who were walking their dogs and heard a smoke alarm.

Andrew Johnson, area manager at Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, who is in charge of the incident, said: “The initial call to the incident stated an elderly resident was thought to be inside.

“Knowing the property belongs to an elderly male, the neighbour forced entry to the premise in an attempt to rescue the occupier.

“Unfortunately these attempts where unsuccessful and the neighbour was beaten back by thick smoke and the severe heat.”

Located

One fire engine from Baschurch, two from Shrewsbury and the incident commander attended the scene.

Mr Johnson said: “A crew from Baschurch entered the property wearing breathing apparatus and very quickly located an elderly male who, tragically, had not survived the fire.

“The fire had broken out in and was contained to the lounge area of the property and was extinguished using a hose reel jet.

“At present it is thought that this tragic incident is most likely to have been caused by smoking materials.”

Mr Johnson said a joint investigation was being carried out by a fire investigation team and police, but is not being treated as suspicious.

Murray MacGregor, West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman, said ambulance crews arrived at 11.05pm, but the man was confirmed to have died.

Villagers said the victim was a retired engineer, who lived on his own and had just turned 80 years old.

The man, who tried to rescue the pensioner was too upset to speak, and did not want to be named today.

Another, who did not want to be named, said: “He was a great bloke. It’s a great shame and such a sad end.”

By Rebecca Lawrence and Tom Johanssen