RESIDENTS of a death-blaze tower block in Glasgow today pleaded: We want out.

Their calls came after a man died in a fire at a high-rise flat in Toryglen, which took 30 firefighters two hours to put out.

Tenants said the block was unpopular and many of them wanted to leave.

Michelle Martin, 33, said: "It's hellish here." Maureen Moncrieff, 45, who lived in the block for five years before moving to a terraced house opposite, said: "This is the worst fire I've ever seen here. It was just awful."

Fire investigators are looking into whether there are any similarities with a fire on the 16th floor of a neighbouring tower block a week ago.

Both blocks are managed by Glasgow Housing Association.

The man died in his three-bedroom flat on the 19th floor of the Prospecthill Circus tower block yesterday, and the fire spread to the flat above.

The man, who was at home alone, was named locally as John Paterson, thought to be in his 50s and described by residents as a "gentle giant".

He has not been named by police, who are attempting to notify next of kin.

Police said there appeared to be no suspicious circumstances surrounding the man's death and a report would be prepared for the procurator fiscal.

The fire came the day after a report into the tower block fire in Camberwell, London, that killed six people, including a three week-old girl, on Friday was ordered by UK Communities Secretary John Denham.

Residents in and around the Toryglen block told how they were shocked as smoke was seen billowing into the air at 8.50am yesterday.

Firefighters led three adults and a family of three to safety, suffering smoke inhalation.

A further 10 people were evacuated, while many others fled on their own.

All of them were given refuge at Toryglen Community Hall.

Area Fire Commander Garry Milne said the spread of the fire to the 20th floor presented "additional challenges" to the five crews.

"Firefighters faced intense heat and smoke, and wearing their protective equipment, they battled their way through and managed to extinguish the blaze," he said.

Muhammad Ley had been visiting a friend in the block.

He led the woman and her three children, including three-week-old twins and a two-year-old, to safety.

"It was a shock to see it," he said.