Investigation into house blaze death underway

The man, named locally as Robert Walton, was found in the terraced property on Meadow Street early today.

The victim has not yet been formally identified and an investigation into the cause of the blaze is under way.

Fire crews from Aston Park, Maltby, Rotherham, Mansfield Road and Central stations were called to the scene at about 1.40am.

Today, the house is sealed off as crime scene investigators try and find out the cause of the inferno.

But Chief Insp Richard Butterworth said there were no suspicious circumstances at this stage and no one else is being sought in relation to the incident.

Mr Butterworth said: “When firefighters arrived the body of a man was found inside the property.

“This investigation is at a very early stage and detectives have only just been able to get into the property.

“We are not looking for anyone else in this investigation at this stage.”

Mr Butterworth said that the investigation would involve the police, fire service and the coroner and a post mortem was likely to take place later today.

No-one else was injured in the fire.

Nearby premises were evacuated during the fire but Mr Butterworth said that there was no risk to the structure of the house next door.

A neighbour on Meadow Street, who asked not to be named, told the Advertiser that Mr Walton was a “decent chap” who had lived in the property for at least 30 years, lived alone and was not married.