A MAN has died after a fire tore through a bedroom of a house in Tonge Fold.

The man, believed to be in his 60s, died after the first floor front room became “engulfed in flames” in Meadowside Avenue yesterday afternoon.

Firefighters, who had rushed to the scene, broke down the front door and battled back the blaze they found the man in the bedroom. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Lee Coleman, borough commander at Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Unfortunately a member of the community has passed away and our thoughts are very much with his family.

“Our main focus now is our continuing efforts to determine the cause of the incident and staff will be in the area undertaking reassurance in the community.

“The main site of the fire was in a bedroom upstairs, which is where we are focusing our investigation.”

Police and three fire engines attended the scene at around 2pm, with paramedics then arriving after a call from fire crews.

Residents in the neighbouring properties were evacuated and the road was closed off by police.

Mr Coleman said the cordon was likely to be in place for a number of hours.

A witness, who preferred not to be named, said: “The full front of the roof was on fire and engulfed in flames.

“There were three fire engines and police fire investigators were there.

“The scene was chaotic, the neighbours were outside because you never know if it’s going to spread.”

Another neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said she knew the man and was saddened to hear of his death.

She added: “He was just a nice, family man.”

The woman also said she was “sickened” by the incident.

She said: “I just saw smoke coming from the windows.

“It was thick, black, horrible smoke and it was pouring out of the front and the back windows.”

As well as the fire service’s dog unit, officers in white coats from the Crime Scene Investigation unit were seen scouring the home for clues.