AN ELDERLY disabled man was found dead in his armchair by firefighters at a blaze in a North Shore flat yesterday (Wednesday).

George Meighan, 72, was pronounced dead at the scene after the severe fire which began in his ground floor flat at Fielding Road at around 2.30pm. Thick smoke from the blaze quickly spread into a lobby shared with three neighbouring flats.

Residents in the flats above managed to escape unaided, but another had to stay in her downstairs flat until the smoke cleared.

Fire crews from Blackpool Forest Gate and Bispham attended the blaze.

Officers said Mr Meighan had access to an emergency alarm but there were no smoke detectors in the building. The pensioner was said to be a wheelchair user who would have had great difficulty moving without help. It's thought he was visited regularly by a carer, but was alone at the time of the fire.

Station officer Andrew Mellor said: "We think it was as a result of him smoking. We think either he passed away while smoking and dropped the cigarette or that he fell asleep."

And he urged the public: "Be careful what you do with your cigarettes -- if you're tired don't smoke.

"And if you haven't got a smoke alarm, please call your local fire station and get one fitted free."