AN elderly man died yesterday when a fire broke out in the lounge of his home.

Two fire engines tackled the blaze at Church End, Wath, near Ripon, North Yorkshire just after 1pm. The man died in the lounge, where the fire started.

A spokesman for the fire service said: "There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the incident. The fire may have been caused by a spark from an open fire.

"This kind of fire highlights the value of fire guards and shows how quickly fires spread. Guards could help save people's lives, especially those who are less mobile.

"If during the winter you want to buy something for your elderly parents, get them a fire guard and a smoke detector."