Tributes left to couple killed in garage fire in Staffordshire village
An elderly man and woman have been confirmed to have died after a fire at a garage in a rural Staffordshire village.
The couple, both in their 70s, died in a fire in a garage next to a house in Cranberry, north of Stafford, at around 10.10am on Saturday.
They have been named locally as Paul and Susan, with flowers left in tribute outside the house.
An air ambulance was sent but the pair were confirmed dead at the scene, West Midlands Ambulance Service said.
The garage was gutted in the blaze, which is not being treated as suspicious, and remained cordoned off on Tuesday.
Claire Brown, spokeswoman for West Midlands Ambulance Service, said: "We were called by the fire service to reports of a fire at a property on Biddles Lane, Cotes Heath, Stafford at 10.14am on Saturday.
"Three paramedic officers, an ambulance and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Tatenhill attended the scene.
"Sadly, it quickly became apparent that nothing could be done to save two occupants and they were confirmed deceased on scene."
A spokesman for Staffordshire Police said: "Police were called to reports of a fire at a property in Cranberry, near Stafford, at 10.20am on Saturday following a call from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service.
"During a search of the property on Biddles Lane, a man and a woman in their 70s, were sadly found deceased in the garage.
"Colleagues from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service examined the scene and the fire is not believed to be suspicious at this time.
"A report is being prepared for HM Coroner."
Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service said they responded to reports of an "explosion and fire" at a cottage in the village – with crews from Newcastle, Stone and Longton attending the scene.
A spokesman for the service said: "On arrival, a garage was on fire and it was established that two people were sadly found deceased inside. The fire was extinguished and a search of the cottage confirmed no one was in the house at the time of the fire.
"Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service is working with Staffordshire Police to investigate the circumstances around the fire. A joint fire investigation is being carried out with West Midlands Fire Service."
