'Weekend of joy' ends in tragedy of fatal fire

A community has been left in shock after a man in his 40s died and another was injured in a fire.

The blaze ripped through a flat in Kirkby Lonsdale's Main Street at about 05:45 GMT on Sunday.

It happened at a busy time in the town which was hosting its Christmas Fair.

"It's been a devastating weekend, which should have been a weekend of joy," said town council chairman Paul Cassell, who praised the response of people in the town.

Lizzie Collinge, the town's MP, said people were in shock.

Speaking to BBC Radio Cumbria, she said what would have been a day for Christmas markets and family events ended as a "day of tragedy".

"The community response though was absolutely fantastic," Collinge said.

"People immediately pulled together. Nobody needed being told what to do, people just did.

"People looked after each other."

Police said in addition to the fatality one man suffered minor injuries, while Collinge described the fire as "very, very intense".

People were evacuated from nearby B&Bs and commercial properties and about 50 needed support at one point.

Nicky Brown, who has lived in the town for 25 years, said: "We are very much a visitor town so our shops and cafes, at this time of year especially, need financial support from business.

"The town has had a horrific day but has joined together in a truly magnificent way and shown what a true community can do."

Cath Whalley, from Westmorland and Furness Council, said there was "no indication" when the street would reopen.

She said the fire had been "absolutely devastating" but the community response was "humbling".

"It's going to have a significant impact on the town," she said.

Structural engineers would assess the damage later and council officers would be speaking with businesses, she added.

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