A PENSIONER died in a house fire which was started by an electrical fault after his bath overflowed.

Stanley Blackburn, 74, was found dead in the bedroom of his terrace house in Burnley Road, Clayton-le-Moors, yesterday morning.

A fire chief said the blaze is likely to have been started in electrical floor wiring after a first floor bath overflowed, probably late on Wednesday evening.

The pensioner is thought to have died from smoke inhalation.

Today Mr Blackburn's sister, Kathleen Lawrence, 64, paid tribute to her brother, a retired labourer.

She said: "He more or less kept himself to himself but he was a kind and gentle man."

Mrs Lawrence, who lives in Accrington and was Mr Blackburn's only close relative, added: "He enjoyed horse racing and bingo and had lived in Burnley Road for more than 65 years.

"He was in good health."

Mick Frankland, group manager for Hyndburn Fire Station, said: "A neighbour smelled smoke in her property and told us there was probably someone in there.

"We broke in through the front door, tackled the fire and while we were doing so we did a quick search of the property and found an elderly gentlemen upstairs.

"We are not sure whether he was overcome by the smoke or had a problem prior to the fire."

Mr Blackburn, who lived alone, was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

Group manager Frankland said the blaze was likely to have started 10 hours or more before the alarm was raised, at 7.15am.

It is likely to have burnt for most of the night in the living room directly under the bathroom and eventually tore up through the floor, he said.

Mr Blackburn was found lying on a bed.

Mr Frankland added: "The occupant was running a bath which overflowed and may have affected the electrics.

"What would have raised his awareness would have been a smoke detector at the top of the stairs. If he had fallen asleep clearly that would have woken him up and he could have got out uninjured."

Neighbour John Cartwright said: "I knew him in passing and I think he had lived here for a few decades. He was a lovely chap. He was very pleasant and kept himself to himself.

"I woke up this morning and smelled the smoke. It is an absolute shock."