A MASSIVE fire which turned a first floor flat in Minehead into a blazing inferno claimed the life of a former licensee in the town.

Father of one Nick Bohun (pictured) was rescued alive from the property in Bowsprit Close just off Trinity Way by firefighters but died in the ambulance shortly afterwards.

Neighbours, who later had to be evacuated from their homes, desperately tried to get into the flat after raising the alarm just after 11pm last Friday.

But they were unable to break down the door.

Two firefighting crews from Minehead were first on the scene and quickly called in the Porlock engine after seeing the huge volume of smoke while on their way to the incident.

Within minutes of their arrival, two more engines from Williton and Wiveliscombe were drafted in, along with a command support unit from Wiveliscombe.

Mr Bohun, who died just two days before his 54th birthday, had been a partner with his brother Pete in the York House Inn, which the family owned for 30 years before selling the business five years ago.

He had also been the licensee of the Washford Inn, which was also sold about ten years ago.

"It's been an horrendous shock for us all and it's a very sad loss," Pete told the Free Press.

"My brother was well known in the area and since he retired he loved to travel.

"He went all over the world, including New Zealand and Sri Lanka.

"It's just a terrible shock for us all and difficult to take in."

Steve Bohun, another brother, said neighbours had fought to try to get into the property when the fire broke out.

"They tried to knock the front door in and one of them ran off to get a hammer," he said.

"They did what they could but by this time the fire brigade had arrived and took over."

Nick Bohun's 20-year-old son Henry paid tribute to his father and said the family wanted to thank everyone who had sent kind messages of condolence.

"My dad will be forever loved and missed by me, my family and all who knew him," he said.

And Nick's father Frank said: "I have lost a well loved son.

"It's been a terrible shock and it is the second blow our family has suffered recently after my wife died in September last year."

Firefighters were at the scene until shortly before 5am, with their efforts succeeding in saving neighbouring properties from damage.

The flat was completely gutted in the incident and West Somerset Council building control manager Jayne Hall was called in on the night and the following morning to carry out a structural assessment before a fire investigation could get underway.

A spokesman for the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said the cause was still unknown but the incident was not being treated as suspicious.

He said the results of the investigation would be passed to West Somerset coroner Michael Rose who opened and adjourned an inquest into Mr Bohun's death on Wednesday.

A post mortem carried out earlier this week failed to determine the cause of death and further medical investigations have been requested.

Mr Bohun's funeral will take place at St Michael's Church in Minehead next Friday (December 14).