An elderly man has died after a house fire in Surbiton last night.

The man, believed to be 76 years old, was pronounced dead at the scene after the blaze spread through the ground floor of the semi-detached house in Tolworth Rise North.

A woman, believed to be the victim's wife, escaped from the fire without injury after trying to rescue the man. She was treated for shock.

Simon Brownings, station manager at Kingston fire station, said the fire was currently under investigation but it is believed to have started accidentally with an electrical heater which may have fallen on the victim.

Ten per cent of the ground floor was destroyed by the fire which started in the living room.

Fire crews from Surbiton and New Malden were called 10.40pm and firefighters using breathing equipment had the fire under control at 11.14pm.

Mr Browning said: "The house had a smoke alarm fitted which was working and activated after the fire.

"This helped to raise the alarm in the house and it is of paramount importance that people have a working smoke alarm fitted in their homes."

For a free fire safety check and free smoke alarm, contact the London Fire Brigade on 0800 028 4428.