An elderly man collapsed and died as he rushed to help a family whose home exploded in a fireball.

David Oakenfold, who was in his 60s, was racing to the blazing house in the village of Ripe, near Lewes, when he collapsed in the street.

Firefighters and villagers who had turned out to try to tackle the blaze tried to help him.

However, he died later in Eastbourne District General Hospital.

Mr Oakenfold had been on his way to help his friends, the Toureau-Tonkin family, at The Barn, Ripe Lane.

The family fled to safety after their home, a converted barn, burst into flames just before 1am yesterday.

Mr and Mrs Toureau-Tonkin and four children, aged seven to 14, escaped without injury but their home was burnt to the ground.

Last night, as the family picked through the remains of their home, a friend said: "They have lost someone very dear to them."

Mr Oakenfold's wife, Marion, cares for one of the Toureau-Tonkin's children, who has special needs.

She and her husband became close to the family.

A neighbour in the village said: "David was a good friend of the family and such a good village person.

"He was very involved in St John's Church and was the type to do anything to help anyone."

Peter Baldwin, landlord of the Lamb Inn at Ripe, described how flames from the family's wooden home lit up the night sky.

"The first we knew was hearing what sounded like fireworks going off.

"The flames were blazing above all the neighbouring houses. It was very impressive, like a fireball.

"Half the village went into the street."

Mr Baldwin said Mr Oakenfold was a familiar face in the pub.

"I think David had seen the flames from his house and gone to see if he could help.

"I don't know what happened but he was found collapsed in the street.

"I think he must have had a heart attack because of the shock of it."

It is believed Mr Oakenfold had semi-retired from his job at an auction house.

Villagers have since rallied round the Toureau-Tonkin family to provide them with clothes and other essentials.

It is thought they are staying with a family friend in Chalvington, near Hailsham.

East Sussex Fire Brigade said the blaze was extremely serious.

It took 20 firefighters nearly two hours to bring the fire under control and stop it spreading to neighbouring buildings.

Damping down continued well into yesterday.