RESIDENTS are angry parked cars blocked a fire engine from getting to a house fire in which a man died.

Reg Reynolds, aged 51, landlord of The Cross Keys, in Belmont Road, Malvern, is leading the calls for parking restrictions on the street.

"The engine was actually blocked, there was a lot of anger. One engine was at the job but the other couldn't come in behind it," Mr Reynolds said.

"There were people frantically trying to move cars realising people were inside the house.

"The guys in the truck came running down the road. This is like an alarm bell for everyone. I can see this happening again.

"There's too many cars per household in Belmont Road. When I came here 25 years ago there was probably six in the whole road. Now there's over 100.

"Over the years people have let this happen. It's an access thing."

The fire service said it is aware of parking issues in the area and used 'local knowledge' when responding to the blaze on Thursday, March 2.

It is one of many streets in Malvern where parking is a problem for the fire service.

The landlord thinks that the street should become a one way road with parking restricted to one side.

He added that the key issue is the road's narrow midsection, which where the fire engine found itself blocked.

Delivery and bin lorries also have trouble getting down the road and some drivers have even crashed into parked cars and then driven off, Mr Reynolds said.

Around 100 people were reportedly in the Cross Keys on the night of the fire, drinking and playing skittles.

Customers noticed flickering on the CCTV and when one of them went outside they saw blue lights heading to the blaze.

A man, believed to be aged 67, who has not been named, was pulled out of the house by firefighters but he died at the scene.

Mr Reynolds said: "It's horrendous what happened, it's a horrible way to die."

Tom Nealon, aged 37, from Upper Howsell Road, Malvern, was one of the customers who was at the pub that night.

"I saw a fire engine and then another one at the end of the road and it couldn't get through," he said.

"People from the pub were knocking on doors trying to get cars moved.

"Lots of neighbours were out asking whose car was whose. I think they should possibly make traffic one way."

Another resident said the second fire engine stopped around 200 metres away from the blaze.

A Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue spokesman said: "Using local knowledge, crews approached the incident from different ends of Belmont Road, one from Newtown Road and one from Sayers Avenue, to ensure that the attendance was not delayed by any parking issues.

"Local crews are aware of parking issues in that area but planned and responded accordingly.

"Whilst parking is a problem in many areas and we would always urge people to consider emergency access when parking their vehicles.

"We are generally aware of these areas and plan our response accordingly."

The first engine was ordered to attend the fire at 9.46pm and arrived at the scene five minutes later.

Do you think something needs to be done about parked cars blocking roads in Malvern? Get in touch and email: md@worcesternews.co.uk