Grandad dies after big blaze

A grandfather, aged 65, has lost his fight for life after a blaze engulfed his home in Halesowen as he cried for help from an upstairs window.

Pensioner Barry Allen's children were at his bedside when he died at Selly Oak Hospital.

Neighbours had rushed to Mr Allen's aid as flames tore through his three-storey house in Teme Road at about 1.20am yesterday. They tried to guide him to a step ladder but he could not see it because of the thick smoke.

Police have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire, which as yet is unexplained.

Mr Allen's devastated daughter Beverly Brettle was at the scene last night thanking residents who tried to save her father's life.

She said doctors told her at 10am that he would not survive and she and brother Andrew took the agonising decision to switch off the ventilator keeping him alive.

Mr Allen, whose wife lost her battle with cancer last year, died at 5.15pm.

"I was with him and I held his hand when he died. I told him to go and be with mum," Beverley said.

"It has just been the end of an absolutely horrendous 12 months. My mum died of cancer and then my grandad died – my dad lost his wife and his dad in the same week."