A 93-year-old man who died after becoming trapped in his burning bungalow has been named as Edwin Wellman.

An inquest at Bournemouth Coroner’s Court heard that Mr Wellman suffered severe burns and smoke inhalation as a result of the fire at his home in Langside Avenue, Poole, earlier this month.

Emergency services were scrambled to the property at around 5.30pm on Sunday, October 5, after neighbours saw smoke billowing from the window and heard the sound of the fire alarm.

Neighbours made desperate attempts to reach the pensioner, who lived alone, but were unable to enter the property due to the thick smoke.

After firefighters managed to rescue Mr Wellman, he was rushed to Poole Hospital before later being flown to Southampton General Hospital for specialist treatment.

Coroner’s officer Nikki Muller said Mr Wellman, who was born in Bournemouth, died at South-ampton General Hospital the day after the blaze.

Earlier this month, a spokes-man from Dorset Police said the fire was not being treated as suspicious.

Dorset Coroner Sheriff Payne adjourned the inquest for further enquiries to be made.

Following the fire Dorset Fire and Rescue Service issued a safety warning urging residents to check their smoke alarms regularly.

Group manager Andy Fox, of Dorset Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Check your smoke alarms regularly – and if you are alerted by a smoke alarm our advice is get out, stay out and call 999.”