TWO days after an Ashburton house fire in which a neighbour forced his way in to try to rescue an elderly man he thought was inside, the building has been severely damaged in another blaze.

Police and fire experts are investigating the cause of Monday's devastating fire at Homeside, Old Totnes Road, which saw firefighters from four stations at the scene. At one stage they had to withdraw, shortly before the roof caved in.

Several neighbours raised the alarm when they heard cracking noises, bangs and windows shattering and then saw smoke and flames coming from the house at around 8.40pm on Monday.

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