AN ELDERLY man died trying to save his home from a blaze yesterday, according to neighbours.

The pensioner, who has not been named, is said to have returned to the bungalow in Merley to try to tackle the flames after making his way out safely.

Residents living nearby said he had been alone in the property in Huntingdon Drive as his wife was at church.

Julie Leake, 50, a carer for her sister, who lives next door, said neighbours tried desperately to get the victim out, but the flames were too fierce.

“The flames were coming out of the front bedroom,” she said.

“We went to the front door, which was open, and were trying to find a way to get him out, but we just couldn’t.”

She added: “My understanding is that it is a shredder that over-heated and caught fire.

“It’s absolutely awful.”

A group of children riding their bicycles in the road were the first to spot the smoke, and alerted a neighbour who called 999.

The victim, who uses sticks to walk, is believed to have thrown an electrical item that was on fire out of the door before returning to try to fight the flames.

Ms Leake, of Corfe Mullen, said: “He obviously tried to throw the shredder out of the front door and went back in.”

A total of ten firefighters from Wimborne, Poole and Ferndown used breathing apparatus to enter the property and rescue the man.

However, he died after being taken to Poole Hospital by ambulance.

One neighbour, who didn’t want to be named, said: “He threw something out of the door and went back in.

“When the fire brigade arrived, they went in but struggled to find him straight away.”

She said the victim had lived on the estate for 40 years, adding: “It’s very frightening and very sad.”

A spokesman for Dorset Police said yesterday: “Dorset Police and Dorset Fire and Rescue Service attended a report of a property fire at 10.51am.

“An investigation as to the cause of the fire will be launched but at this time it’s thought to be a tragic accident.”