AN 84-year-old man found dead following a fire at a farm near Lauder is believed to have been living rough.

Police received reports of a blaze within a building in the grounds of Bowerhouse Farm on Tuesday (December 15) around 9.25am.

Emergency services raced to the scene after the alarm was raised by a local farmer.

But, on arrival, firefighters found the steading within the farm complex well alight and the pensioner inside fatally injured. Crews from Lauder and Dalkeith attended.

Police, who carried out a joint investigation with the fire service, said there appeared to be no suspicious circumstances. However, they were continuing to probe the cause of the blaze.

The man is not being named until next of kin have been informed.

A police spokesperson said: "The farmer at Bowerhouse Farm contacted the fire service informing them of a fire at a steading within the farm complex. Two fire crews attended where on arrival they learned that a male was within the alight building.

"The fire was extinguished and the body of an elderly male removed apparently dead.

"Following enquiry the deceased is believed to be a gentleman of the road, of no fixed abode. The deceased, however, had slept within the steading intermittently for the past 40 years and was well known to the farmer.

"Fire Service Investigation attended where after examination they were of the opinion that the fire was not suspicious, however, it is as yet unknown the cause of this fire.

"Police are still trying to trace any next of kin for the deceased and his name has not yet been released."