POLICE are still at the scene of a house fire in Holly Hall which left a man dead.

The blaze, in Wood Street, began at around 6.10pm on Saturday February 8, the investigation was delayed by the building being left in a dangerous state due to the severity of the fire.

A 42-year-old woman and her sons, aged nine and 15, escaped from the house seconds before the blaze took hold and were taken to hospital but later discharged.

Detective Inspector Derek Packham from West Midlands Police CID said: "At this stage we are treating the death as unexplained. The death has been referred to the coroner.

"A woman and her two sons, who we believe were related to the man, have been left badly traumatised by what has happened. Fortunately none were seriously injured.

"All three are being supported by specially trained officers and our investigation is well underway."

The dead man is yet to be formally identified but believed to be aged 42.

The road was closed for around ten hours following the fire and neighbouring properties were evacuated until the scene was made safe.

Police stepped up patrols in the region and began house to house enquiries, it is believed a gunshot was heard before the fire began.

Officers are not hunting anyone else in connection with the incident but are appealing for anyone with information to contact detectives by calling 101.