An investigation is under way after a man died following a fire at sheltered accommodation in Herne Bay on Monday night.

Fire crews were called to Thornhurst in Churchill Avenue at 10.10pm. There was a fire in a ground floor room of the two-storey city council-run building.

A man in his fifties was rescued by firefighters and given oxygen before being taken to hospital where he later died.

One other person was treated for smoke inhalation.

Thornhurst, which is run by Canterbury City Council, has 55 units and a warden on site.

The victim, who had mobility difficulties, lived alone and has not been named.

Steve Oborne, the council’s head of safety and wellbeing, said: “Something like this is of course a tragedy, it’s very sad.

“Everything was done to evacuate the other residents and make sure they were all right while the incident was going on.”

Three fire crews attended from Whitstable and Herne Bay. The fire was contained to one flat.

Crews left the scene at 12.15am.