Two elderly men died in separate house fires in Cambridgeshire last night.

The fires occurred in Cambridge and in the village of Toft, six miles west of the city.

A spokesman for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue said: “In the first, an elderly gentleman was found deceased in a mid-terrace house in City Road, Cambridge, after a neighbour reported hearing an alarm and smelling smoke.

“Two crews attended and fire fighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the property and discovered the man in a ground floor bedroom.

“The fire was contained to a chair in the lounge but smoke had spread further in the house. One hose reel was used to extinguish the fire and the property was ventilated using specialist equipment.”

In the second incident in Toft, smoke was reported at an address in High Street. Three crews attended and fire fighters entered the property and found one elderly male casualty in an annex building.

The spokesman said: “He was carried outside by fire crews who then performed immediate first aid. An ambulance crew continued to administer treatment when they arrived but sadly were unable to save the man.

“One hose reel was used to extinguish the fire which is believed to have started in a cupboard.

“Crews were at the scene until around 2.20am.

“The causes of the fires are unknown at this stage. Fire investigators are working closely with police forensic experts today to determine how both fires started.”

The spokesman added: “Our thoughts are with the families of the men who died.”