Tributes paid to man killed in Surbiton flat fire

TRIBUTES have been paid to the man whose body was found above a Surbiton charity shop following a fire last week.

The emergency services were called to St Andrew's Road, at 7.58am, after reports of an explosion in the first floor flat above the The Fircroft Trust shop.

Around 20 firefighters battled the blaze for 40 minutes after it had engulfed the top floor of the building.

When they entered they found the body of 57 year old Kevin Hall, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Flowers have been left outside the shop and neighbours have paid tribute to Mr Hall.

Assistant manager of the The Fircroft Trust shop, Clive Galley, said: "We knew him as a neighbour and saw him just about every single day up until the last couple of months.

"He wasn't quiet but was outspoken and opinionated.

"He cared a lot about the community and helped out a lot at the St Andrew's Church and ran a little car wash across the road on Sundays.

"As a shop we're very sorry to hear of his death."

After the fire broke out, a police cordon was put in place along St Andrew's Road to the junctions of St Philips Road and Victoria Road.

The heavy smell of smoke woke up neighbours.

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