Elderly man dies after house fire

An elderly man has died after being rescued from a fire at a house in Kent.

Firefighters were called to the property in James Street, Sheerness, at 1336 GMT following reports that a blaze had broken out on the ground floor.

The man was rescued from the property but was pronounced dead at the scene after paramedics' attempts to resuscitate him failed.

Police and fire officers are investigating the cause of the blaze but it is not thought to be suspicious.

Drivers were advised to avoid the area as James Street would be closed for some time, with traffic being diverted via Unity Street.