Pensioner fights for life after house fire

A pensioner is fighting for his life after a fire in the front room of his West Bromwich home today. An investigation has been launched into the cause.

The man, named locally as John Brookes and believed to be 68, was rushed to Sandwell Hospital in a critical condition after the fire at his home in Marsh Lane.

He suffered severe burns and smoke inhalation.

He was then transferred to Birmingham Queen Elizabeth Hospital's burns unit, where he was being treated today.

The road was closed for four hours after the fire started at around 2am today.

Witnesses told how they were only alerted to the fire after next door's smoke alarm sounded.

Next door neighbour Nicky Hooper said: "I heard our smoke alarm going off and I expected to see flames at our home.

"I went outside and there was smoke billowing out of next door. I think I woke the whole street up as I was banging on the door to try and wake him up.

"When they got him out of the house, medics were giving him oxygen on the garden."

West Bromwich fire watch commander Lee Walker said the cause of the fire was not being treated as suspicious.

He added: "The cause is being fully investigated at the moment but we do not believe there was any suspicious activity."