A man whose death in a house fire triggered a murder investigation has been named.

Andrew Jones was pronounced dead at the scene of the blaze in Preston Road, Brighton, on Sunday, March 10.

An inquest into the 50-year-old’s death opened this morning at Edes House, Chichester.

The court heard firefighters extricated Mr Jones, of Whitehawk Road, Brighton, from the building and CPR was performed but despite the best efforts of emergency services he was pronounced dead.

A provisional cause of death following a post-mortem was given as inhalation of fire fumes.

The inquest, opened by assistant coroner Alicia Keen, was adjourned to a provisional date of August 29, 2024, for a full hearing to take place.

A 36-year-old woman, from Brighton, was arrested on suspicion of murder following the fire but was released on bail.

Residents were left in shock as emergency services descended on the busy road in the early hours of Sunday morning after receiving reports of smoke coming from a property.

Firefighters battled to put out the blaze which was in the basement flat of the building.

There was a large police presence in the area well into the afternoon with officers manning a cordon and forensics teams working in a tent in the road.

Preston Road was sealed off from Ditchling Rise to the junction of Stanford Avenue while emergency services worked.

A spokesman from East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said at the time: "We were called to a fire in a basement flat of a three-storey building in Preston Road, Brighton at 3.48am on Sunday morning.

"Unfortunately, there was one fatality, and a female was taken in to the care of the ambulance service.”

Sussex Police appealed for anyone with information about the incident to come forward.

A force spokesman said: “Enquiries are ongoing to understand the circumstances of the fire and we continue to appeal for any information that may assist our enquiries.

“You can contact us by using our online reporting form, or by calling 101 quoting Operation Tunnel.”