Investigation under way after man dies in blaze at flat

INVESTIGATIONS are under way after a man died at a fire in a Lothians flat.

Fire crews and police were called to a property in Mayfield near Dalkeith at about 1.45am on Saturday.

A 42-year-old man was taken from the building in Hawthorn Crescent but was pronounced dead at the scene.

Neighbouring residents said not much was known about the victim, who kept “himself to himself” and is understood to have only moved to the property in recent weeks.

A man who lives across the landing, reportedly tried to rescue the man and said: “I was banging on his door, trying to get a response, but when the firemen arrived they told us to leave.”

Outside the property was a pile of debris and there was smoke damage around one of the windows.