Tributes have been paid to a 58-year-old man who died in a flat fire in Barrhead at the weekend.

John Inglis was pronounced dead at the scene of the blaze in Waulkmill Avenue at around 11.45pm on Sunday.

A 54-year-old man was also taken to the Royal Alexandra Hospital, in Paisley, for treatment.

A police spokesman said the fire is currently being treated as unexplained and a joint investigation with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) is ongoing.

He told the Barrhead News: “We were made aware of a fire at a property in Waulkmill Avenue at around 11.45pm on Sunday.

“The body of a 58-year-old man was found at the property. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

“A 54-year-old man was taken to the Royal Alexandra Hospital, in Paisley, for treatment to non-life threatening injuries.

“A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal in due course.”

Area commander James McNeil, SFRS local senior officer in East Renfrewshire, sent his condolences to those affected by the tragic incident.

He said: “We were alerted at 11.44pm on Sunday, February 28 to reports of a fire at a residential property on Waulkmill Avenue.

“Operations Control mobilised three appliances to the scene and crews extinguished a fire within a two-storey building.

“An investigation into the full circumstances of the fire will be undertaken alongside Police Scotland.

“Our thoughts are very much with his family, friends and the wider community at this difficult time.”

Several bouquets of flowers have been attached to the fence outside the property in memory of Mr Inglis, while Renfrewshire South MSP Tom Arthur, who represents Barrhead, also paid tribute to him.

He said: “My thoughts are with those who have been affected by this tragic event.

“I want to thank the emergency services for responding.

“I hope that they are able to find the cause of this awful incident.”

Councillor Danny Devlin, meanwhile, told the Barrhead News he was saddened to hear what had happened to Mr Inglis, who lived in his ward.

Fellow councillor Paul Aitken, who also represents Barrhead, described the news of the tragedy as “desperately sad.”

“I am very sorry for the family’s loss,” he added.