Man dies in Rotherham house fire

Fire crews were called to a property on Meadow Street, Laughton Common, Dinnington, at around 1.30am this morning.

Firefighters from Aston Park, Maltby, Rotherham, Mansfield Road and Central stations were all sent to the incident.

A man in his 60s, who is yet to be formally identified, was found dead inside the property.

An investigation into the cause of the blaze is now under way. Police say they are not treating the death as suspicious.

Speaking outside the property this morning, Chief Inspector Richard Butterworth said investigations are at ‘a very early stage’ but there are believed to be no suspicious circumstances.

He said the man was believed to have lived alone and no one else was injured in the incident.

Nearby homes were evacuated as the fire was dealt with but no structural damage has been caused to them.

Chief Inspector Butterworth said: “Although we are conducting a full and thorough investigation, at this stage we are not looking for anybody else in relation to this incident.

“It seems there was a tragic fire.”

The street was cordoned off by police this morning, with part of the roof of the affected property burnt out.

Residents living on the road expressed their shock at the death of the man.

Bill Spooner, 75, who has lived on Meadow Street for more than 30 years, said: “It is terrible, I just can’t believe it.

“Everybody on this street looks after each other and we don’t get any trouble.”

He said he had been asleep when the incident happened and had been told of the man’s death by a neighbour this morning.

Mr Spooner said he had known the person who died, but did not know his name.