A PENSIONER described as "a hermit" died alone in his smoke-filled terrace house in the early hours today.

Alan Holden, 68, was found dead in a rear downstairs room of the house in Heys Lane, Darwen, which had been his home for more than 50 years.

The alarm was raised at around 4.45 am when neighbours noticed smoke coming from the rear of the house.

Pensioner Frank Cookson, who lives next door but one, said: "I smelled smoke and then saw it coming out of the windows. The house was full of smoke."

Mr Cookson woke Mr Holden's neighbours, Les and Edna Leach, and rang the emergency services but they were too late to save him.

Mrs Jessie Cookson said: "He was a loner who kept himself to himself. It's such a sad way for him to go on his own like that - it's a tragedy."

Police Inspector Richard Cox said: "We are not treating this as suspicious but the cause is still being investigated."

Mr Holden is believed to have a brother and sister living in the South and another relative living in the Blackburn area.

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