Tribute was today paid to an 80-year-old man who died when fire tore through part of his north Shropshire home.

John Staples died in the blaze at the bungalow in Yeaton, near Baschurch, on Friday night.

He was today described as “a quiet man with a great sense of humour” by his son Francis Staples, of Ellesmere.

The tribute comes as Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service revealed the fire, which was contained to the living room of the bungalow, was most likely to have been caused by smoking.

Mr Staples, 52, today thanked a neighbour who tried to rescue the father-of-two and grandfather-of-four from the flames but was beaten back by thick smoke and severe heat.

“I have spoken to the neighbour who tried to rescue dad and thanked him for his efforts,” he said. 

“It’s difficult to put into words but I will miss dad because he was a big part of my life, especially in the last year.”

Mr Staples added that his father, a widower who lived alone, was an engineer who had worked at Walford College in his later working life and was a sailing and motorbike enthusiast.

Today, in a warning to smokers, Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service officials urged them to stub out their cigarettes and pipes with extra care.

A spokesman said: “We would like to warn of the general dangers of smoking late at night or when tired, and urge all members of the public to be extra cautious when extinguishing all smoking materials.”