Neighbours dragged an elderly man from his Bradford home in a desperate bid to save him from a fire last night.

William Friar was pulled from the blaze in the kitchen of his home, above, on Bolton Hall Road, Bolton Woods, by neighbours who broke a window to reach him.

Rescuers tried to resuscitate Mr Friar before paramedics and fire crews arrived but he was pronounced dead at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

Today police said the blaze, which broke out shortly after 7pm, was being treated as a "tragic accident" and it was suspected that Mr Friar, who was in his 70s, had suffered a seizure in the kitchen.

Stephen Muff, 38, who lives in St Laurence's Close, opposite the house, said he was called to help by other neighbours and found Mr Friar collapsed in the kitchen.

"He was just slumped in the corner of the kitchen and four of us lifted him out.

"We put him outside and two of the lads tried to resuscitate him."

Mr Muff said he had known Mr Friar for many years.

"Everyone knew him. He was a lovely man," he said.

Firefighters from Idle, Shipley, Bingley and Odsal attended the scene.

Sub Officer Paul Broomhead, of Idle fire station, said it was thought the fire had been started after a pan was left on a heated hob and he praised neighbours for their actions.

"When we arrived there were two residents trying to resuscitate an elderly gentleman in the garden of the house involved," he said.

"What we believe is the residents found the house full of smoke, broke in and found the man slumped on the floor unconscious.

"The actions of the two men who tried to resuscitate the man were first class. Without any due regard to their own safety they entered the house, dragged him out and tried to resuscitate him."

The coroner has been informed of Mr Friar's death.