POLICE AND forensic science experts were yesterday involved in an investigation at the scene of a fire that cost the life of an elderly Fife man.

Activity was centred on the ground-floor home at Erskine Street in Tayport where the victim perished on Thursday night.

The alarm was raised shortly before 10 pm, and firefighters from Tayport and a unit from Tayside were called to the scene.

Yesterday Fife-based divisional officer Bob Arnott, who attended the fire, said firefighters had removed the man from the flat but had been unable to save him.

He added that the other properties had been evacuated and that one other person had been treated at the scene. The man had suffered from smoke inhalation but had not required further treatment.

Mr Arnott said the flat had been fitted with a smoke detector, and added that investigations into the cause of the fire and what happened were continuing.

The victim will not be named by police until next of kin have been informed and formal identification has taken place.