An elderly man was found dead in his flat after an electric heater triggered a fire.

Two fire crews from Hastings were called to St Peter's Road, St Leonards, last night after neighbours saw smoke pouring from the top-floor flat.

Residents of the three-storey terrace building broke down a door leading to the man's flat and tried to rescue him but were forced back by dense smoke.

Firefighters found the man, believed to be in his 60s, lying on the floor by the lounge door.

He was taken to the Conquest Hospital but was found to be dead.

Leading Firefighter Mark Mitchell said: "We made a thorough search of the flat to make sure there was no one else in there but he seemed to be on his own. It was very, very hard to see.

"His flat was badly damaged by the fire and other flats were smoke damaged.

"It started in the bedroom but I don't think there was a smoke detector."

The man has not yet been identified and police were today attempting to trace his family.