Neighbours have spoken of their shock and sadness after an elderly man died in a fire in Nicholas Crescent, Fareham

Fire crews rushed to Nicholas Crescent in Fareham after they were alerted to a blaze in a bedroom.

An elderly man was rescued from the building but was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

A woman, understood to be his wife, managed to escape the flames and was treated for smoke inhalation.

Neighbours have spoken of their shock and sadness at the “horrendous” event.

A 60-year-old woman, who lives nearby but also did not want to be named, said:"It's very sad obviously. It's always a bad time [when you lose somebody] but it makes it even worse because it's Christmas because it's a family time."

A 40-year-old resident living nearby, who did not want to be named, said: "That's awful. It's a tragedy really. Our thoughts go out to his family. It's horrendous."

Jeanette Kirkham, who lives next door was away visiting family and returned to the tragedy that had unfolded hours before.

"It's just a shock to come back having been away for Christmas and to come back and hear the sad news - it's very sad, it's terrible."

Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: “I saw someone brought out and taken into the ambulance.

“But the ambulance didn’t go away for some time.

“I know they have to make sure they’re okay before they go off on the journey, but it seemed a long time before they went.

”You are thinking are they alright - everybody I asked about it wouldn’t say anything.”

She described the occupants of the house as “a lovely couple” who were in their mid-80s and very close to each other.

Other neighbours said the couple had been in the home for around 40 years.

The blaze broke out shortly before 8am and the home was cordoned off until around 1.45pm, with several police and fire vehicles on the scene.

Dogs were also used by firefighters to help investigate the cause of the blaze, which is still yet to be identified.

Two appliances attended from Fareham Fire Station and one from Portchester.

South Central Ambulance Service also sent several vehicles including a hazardous area response team.