Forensic scientists were still at the scene this morning of a fatal house fire in Sheerness.

A pensioner died after being pulled from the house despite attempts to resuscitate him.

The tragedy happened on Tuesday afternoon at the mid-terraced property in James Street, close to The British Admiral pub.

The man was believed to be in his early 90s and has been named by neighbours as Bill Garner, who was known as 'Jock'.

Neighbour Jean Evans, 77, said: "I have lived here with my husband Tom for 50 years and Jock had been here longer than us.

"He was a lovely fellow and I always looked out my window to check that his lights were on.

"If they were then I knew he was OK. We saw smoke coming from his windows so rang his daughter who lives nearby."

Next door neighbour Michael Lukanowski, 29, said: "I moved in here with my wife Betty two years ago and we never saw him out and about because he kept himself to himself.

"I was at work when it happened but Betty was in with our son David and they were told to get out the house for 45 minutes while firefighters dealt with the blaze."

A police spokesman said: "At this stage, the cause of the fire is not thought to be suspcious."

The coroner has been informed and a post mortem examination has still to be held. It is expected that an inquest will be formally opened next week.