A RESIDENT has spoken of his shock after a man died in a blaze at a flats complex in Brooklands.

An investigation is underway into the fire which broke out at Ellanbrook Lodge, on Brooklands Road, at about 7am on Sunday.

An elderly woman managed to escape out of a window of her ground floor flat but her 77-year-old husband was trapped inside.

One of the residents made a brave but unsuccessful bid to rescue the man.

Denis Robertson, who lives in the next door flat at the 16-apartment retirement block, said: "We are all still in shock, we are very upset. It is quite horrific."

Denis relived the moment when the man's wife raised the alarm.

"I was in bed and I heard someone outside shouting for help.

"Then she was trying my door handle and calling for help.

"It was only then that the fire alarm went off.

"I called the fire brigade and all the neighbours came down.

"Then a chap took a fire extinguisher and broke a window to try and help."

The man did not manage to get in the flat, though, and suffered burns to his hand during the rescue attempt.

Denis added: "The fire brigade were here within five minutes and smashed the door down."

Firefighters rescued the man but he died. They quickly extinguished the blaze.

The couple had lived at the flats for more than 10 years and the husband is believed to have been a retired school teacher.

Neighbours said they 'kept themselves to themselves' and the wife enjoyed tending plants in the garden.

The wife and resident who tried to rescue her husband were taken to hospital for treatment. The resident was treated for burns to his hand and smoke inhalation.

The widow of the dead man is believed to be staying with her son.