A forensic tent in Brassey Road this morning

A MAN died after fire ripped through a flat in West Hampstead in the early hours today (Monday).

Firefighters battled the blaze in Brassey Road for more than two hours. They reached a man, believed to be in his 40s, inside the burning property but he was later pronounced dead at the scene.

An investigation into the cause of the fire has begun.

A London Fire Brigade statement said: “The whole of a second floor flat was badly damaged by the blaze. and firefighters worked hard to stop the fire from spreading to surrounding properties.”

The fire in Brassey Road

It added: “The Brigade was called at 0356 and the fire was under control by 0604. Fire crews from West Hampstead, Willesden, Paddington and North Kensington fire stations were at the scene.”