A SECOND World War veteran has died in a fire at his Southampton home.

But mystery still surrounds the cause of the blaze which claimed the life of 89-year-old widower Ernie Knowles.

He was found slumped in his kitchen by his stepdaughter after flames tore though his bungalow in Woodmill Lane in Bitterne Park yesterday.

Fire crews raced to the scene and found the frail pensioner collapsed in his kitchen.

Friends of popular Mr Knowles paid tribute to him and said he would be sadly missed by fellow regulars at Bitterne Park's Royal British Legion Club in Bullar Road.

Pete Howarth, 63, from West End, said: "Ernie was a right little character. He has been coming down to the club for about 13 years. His legs got bad recently, so he would usually only come down on a Thursday. We will really miss him down here."

Rick Pulford, 58, of Avon Road, said: "Everybody will miss him. He was one of the characters in the bar. No one would hear a bad word about him. He was a nice old boy."

Mr Pulford's wife Phyl, 59, added: "He was just one heck of a character. I will miss seeing him around. We held an 80th birthday party for him at the club and he loved it."

Police and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service's investigation unit are still probing the cause of the blaze.

Fire crews were alerted to the tragedy after Mr Knowles' stepdaughter Diane Pearce, who lives in Townhill Park, went to check on him about midday yesterday and found him collapsed in the kitchen.

The pensioner is believed to have lived in the bungalow for around 40 years. He is thought to have been widowed five years ago and had worked at Southampton docks after he left the armed forces. He is also believed to have worked as a grave digger in the city.

He also leaves a son and step-granddaughter.

Last night the 1930s-style bungalow was sealed off as scenes of crime officers investigated the cause of the blaze.

But mystery surrounds exactly when the fire broke out at Mr Knowles' home whose windows today are still covered in thick black smoke.

Neighbours told the Daily Echo they had not even noticed there had been a fire.

Monica Pierce, 66, said: "I didn't know anything about the fire. We heard all the noise from the engines but that was it. I assumed it was something going on further up the road. But I didn't know it was at Ernie's house. It's really sad. We'll all miss him."

Sarah Andrews, 35, said: "I wasn't aware that there was anything going on at all. Our houses are quite enclosed so you don't always notice what's going on outside. But it's so sad - he was such a character."

Det Insp Nigel Oliver of Bitterne CID said: "There has been a substantial fire at the house. The cause of the fire is under investigation. We don't yet know when the fire started."