A man has died in a fire after a reported explosion at a house in the Midlands.

Six members of the public dialled 999 to report a blast at the home in Wolverhampton.

Flames could be seen billowing from an upstairs bedroom window when fire crews arrived, a fire service spokesman said.

The man, who has not been named, was pronounced dead at the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: "Wearing personal protective clothing and using breathing apparatus, the Hazardous Area Response Team entered the building with the fire service where they found the body of a man."

More than 20 firefighters were sent to the property in Rylands Drive at 3.15pm today.

"When they arrived there was a severe fire on the first floor and some of the loft space of the two-storey house," a spokesman for the service said.

"Sadly, one man died in the incident."

Residents were evacuated from the street amid fears of a gas leak, although the fire service later said the blast had not been a gas explosion.

The spokesman added: "The National Grid have been around to test the property and nearby area.

"As a precaution we had a cordon in place which has been removed."

He added: "There were six 999 calls reporting an explosion of some sort.

"Until our investigation team has had a closer look at the scene it is not possible to definitely say."

West Midlands Police also attended the incident and put a cordon in place, a spokesman said.