A PENSIONER who died following a fire at his home over the weekend has been named locally as Brian Miller.

Mr Miller, who is believed to have been a grandfather, is said to have died after returning to his burning bungalow in Merley to try to put out the blaze.

As reported by the Daily Echo, fire crews, police officers and paramedics rushed to Huntingdon Drive on Sunday after receiving a call at around 10.51am.

He was rescued from the fire but died shortly after in hospital.

Neighbours told the Echo that an electrical device, possibly a shredder, overheated and caught fire and was thrown from the front door before Mr Miller went back inside to tackle the flames.

One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said Mr Miller and wife Mary were formerly members of the Neighbourhood Watch group in the area.

“It’s very sad news indeed,” she said.

“Mrs Miller is a lovely lady and everybody is thinking about her.”

It is thought Mrs Miller, who has two daughters, is with family.

She was at St Catherine’s RC Church in Lewens Lane, Wimborne, when the fire broke out.

A spokesperson for Dorset Fire and Rescue said: “The cause of the fire is believed to be electrical, but this is still under investigation.

“The fire started in a detached bungalow, 10 metres by 20 metres, and 10 firefighters using breathing apparatus were involved in extinguishing it using two hose reel jets and two main lines.”

She said firemen had rescued a man from inside the building before he was taken to Poole Hospital by paramedics.

A spokesperson from Dorset Police said there are no suspicious circumstances behind the blaze, adding: “Sadly, this is thought to be a tragic accident.”

The damage to the bungalow is 50 per cent in the room the fire began in, and 70 per cent by heat and smoke to the rest of the building.