Floral tributes have been left at the scene of a house fire in which a pensioner died as police confirmed it is being treated as ‘non-suspicious.’
Emergency services were called to Antonio Street, in Bootle, shortly before 6pm on Wednesday after reports of smoke coming from a two storey building.
Fire crews arrived within four minutes and attempted to bring the fire under control as officers from Merseyside Police closed a number of roads in the area.
It is believed that the fire broke out in an upstairs room of the house before spreading downstairs and to the roof space.
A short time after paramedics arrived, firefighters managed to bring a 67-year-old man out of the property but despite medical attention from ambulance crews he was pronounced dead a short time later.
Police today confirmed the fire, which gutted the upstairs of the terraced house, was being treated as non-suspicious.
It came as people left flowers and touching sympathy cards outside the property.
One poignant note attached to a bouquet simply said: "Sincere condolences, sorry for your loss. R.I.P"
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Area Manager for Merseyside Fire and Rescue, Gary Oakford praised the emergency services who attended the scene, describing it as an "exceptionally challenging incident".
The fire caused severe damage to the terraced property, with roof beams and bare brickwork in an upper room being exposed.
Little is known of the man who lived at the property, with residents saying they never saw anyone come out or go in.
