Elderly man dies in house fire

Fire crews were called to Darlington's Rockingham Street

A man in his 80s has died following a house fire in Darlington.

Police and fire services launched an investigation after a "small fire" broke out at a property on Rockingham Street on Thursday afternoon.

The man was pronounced dead shortly after crews from the County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service (CDDFRS) arrived at the scene.

CDDFRS group manager Chris Williams offered his condolences to the man's family and said: "At tragic times like this, we are reminded of the dangers of fire, and the reality that fire kills."

The fire service was alerted to the incident by an ambulance crew who had been called to the home of a man living in Rockingham Street who was understood to have fire-related injuries.

When they arrived, the small fire had already been extinguished.

Specialist investigators are now working with Durham Constabulary to establish the cause of the blaze.

The man who died has not yet been publicly named.

Mr Williams said: "First and foremost, the thoughts of everyone at CDDFRS are with the friends, family and neighbours of the gentleman who sadly passed away.

"We ask that people give those close to him the privacy they need as they attempt to come to terms with what has happened.”

He said the incident was the second fatal fire crews had attended in less than a fortnight, and urged members of the public to take advantage of free fire safety visits by the brigade.