An inquest has opened into the death of a man who died in a house fire in Thetford earlier this year.

Thetford & Brandon Times: A man has died in a house fire in Feltwell. Picture: Ian BurtA man has died in a house fire in Feltwell. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2018)

Michael Avery died following a fire in his bungalow in Feltwell on August 22, Norfolk Coroner’s court heard on Friday.

The 71-year-old, who was born in Essex but lived in a bungalow in East Hall, was a retired security worker.

Opening the inquest, Yvonne Blake, area coroner for Norfolk gave Mr Avery’s cause of death as smoke inhalation.

Following Mr Avery’s death in August neighbours paid tribute to Mr Avery, describing him as ‘a lovely man’. Barbara Lee, said: “He was such a lovely man. He used to walk his dog. It is a very close knit community here. If he was outside and I walked past, we would always wave and say, “you alright?”, “yeah, are you?”

The hearing has been adjourned for a full inquest on June 19.