A murder investigation has been launched after a man's body was found in a blazing flat.

The 42-year-old was pulled from the burning building in Mill Street, Barwell, at about 10pm, on Monday.

Firefighters and paramedics tried to resuscitate him but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

A police cordon around the building and surrounding area was expected to remain in place today as officers carry out a detailed search.

Two men have been arrested in connection with the investigation.

Among those first at the scene was father-of-two Strad Kyriacou, 30, who called the fire service before running into the blazing block of flats to see if anyone was trapped.

He said: "I was the first one in and the smoke was stinging my eyes. I had to crawl about on my hands and knees and after about a minute I couldn't see a thing, apart from the light of the fire, so I had to feel around with my hands to see if anyone was there.

"I could see the flames above my head and, after about two minutes, I couldn't breathe and started to black out. I had to come outside to get my breath."

Strad helped a man in his 40s through the smoke and flames and into the street.

The man told him an elderly lady was still inside, in a ground floor flat, and he thought someone may have been in an upstairs flat as well. Strad, who owns Chris's Fish and Chips, in Barwell, went back into the building.

"The fire was so strong and stuff was falling from the ceiling and landing all around me," said Strad.

"It was like the movies – the roar of the fire and the heat was amazing.

"I was banging on the old lady's door and, luckily, she came out and managed to get outside.

"I tried to get to the top room to check no one was up there but I couldn't go any further.

"Before I could go in a third time the fire brigade arrived."

Strad's wife Gina, 29, was at home.

She said: "As soon as someone told me about the fire I knew he'd be down there, but I only found out that he'd gone into the house when he came back.

"I was quite angry because we've got two kids and I'm pregnant, and he was really putting himself in danger.

"It was only afterwards I thought he was really brave."

Josh Lewis, 17, helped to pull the first man out.

He said: "I only got halfway up the stairs because it was so smoky and my asthma had started to kick in. I helped him out and waited in the road."

The man upstairs was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police launched a murder investigation following a postmortem examination.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Harrison said: "The investigation is still in its early stages.

"I'm trying to piece together what happened at the flat."