Man dies in flats blaze

A MAN died in a fire at sheltered flats near Warrington this morning – and three other residents were rescued by firefighters..
The blaze, which broke out shortly before 9am, involved flats in Farnworth Road, Penketh.
An elderly man died in the outbreak and about 20 other residents were evacuated to the nearby St Paul’s Church Hall where they were cared for.
Ten firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the building to lead residents to safety and check that everyone had been evacuated.
The fire broke out in a ground floor flat and the cause is still being investigated. Fire crews rescued a woman from the first floor and she was taken to hospital by ambulance suffering from the effects of smoke.
Two other people were rescued from a flat roof they had climbed onto to escape the smoke.
The identity of the dead man has not been revealed.
Ten fire appliances were called to the scene and three hosereel jets used to fight the fire.