Flat fires claim lives of two men

Fire crews were called to blazes in Irvine and Greenock

Two men have died in separate flat fires in the west of Scotland.

Emergency services were unable to revive 23-year-old Robbie Sharp following a fire at a flat in Rannoch Place, Irvine, on Sunday morning.

Later in the day, the body of an elderly man was discovered in the bedroom of a burning flat in Regents Court, Greenock.

Another man was taken to Inverclyde Royal Hospital suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation.

A 50-year-old man, 45-year-old woman and a seven-year-old girl managed to escape from the blaze in Irvine, which happened in a ground floor flat at about 0420 BST on Sunday.

Breathing apparatus

A fire brigade spokesman said: "Firefighters from Dreghorn and Kilwinning were met by a serious fire in the ground floor of the property.

"Three residents escaped from the first floor, unfortunately one further male casualty, removed by firefighters wearing breathing apparatus, has been confirmed as a fatality."

The fire brigade said crews were alerted to the fire in Greenock at 1249 BST and were at the scene within four minutes.

Six firefighters wearing breathing apparatus took Peter Darroch, 71, from the flat as they extinguished the fire but he died at the scene.

Police said the causes of the fires were being investigated but did not appear to be suspicious.