Man rescued from house fire after explosion heard

An elderly man was dragged to safety from his burning home by neighbours as fire tore through his rural cottage in Shropshire.

The man, in his 70s, suffered smoke inhalation and minor burns to his hand during the blaze at Whixall, near Wem, last night. Neighbours say they heard an 'explosion' before the fire. It tore through the cottage in Hollinwood at about 9.10pm.

The cause is still being investigated but it is believed a log may have rolled out of an open fire in the front room as the man, who has not been named, slept in a chair.

The fire caused 'significant' damage to the roof and fire and smoke damage to a number of the rooms.

Firefighters said the man was alerted by a smoke alarm'.

One neighbour who did not want to named said: "My neighbour heard an explosion and said the house was well alight when they came to look."

Another neighbour who asked not to be identified said: "I heard he apparently fell asleep and something tumbled off the fire."

Police spokesman Richard Ewels said: "It seems a man in his 70s managed to escape the property aided by a neighbour.

"There doesn't appear to be any suspicious circumstances regarding the fire.

"It seems the fire arose from an open coal and log fire and the man, who was alone in the property, was asleep in his chair and was awoken by a smoke alarm."