A married couple who died in a house fire in Sunderland in the early hours of Monday (October 31) has been named as Alfred and Audrey Crawford.

The couple sadly passed away following the fire which broke out at a home on Minorca Close in Hendon, Sunderland around 4am on Monday morning.

Audrey was tragically pronounced dead at the scene while Alfred was taken to the RVI in Newcastle with “serious injuries”. It has now been confirmed that he passed away in hospital on Tuesday (November 1).

Read more: Tributes left to woman who died in tragic North East house fire

Inquests into both of their deaths will be opened on Monday (November 7) at Sunderland Coroner’s Court.

The Northern Echo:

A hearing for Alfred will take place at 10.30am, followed by the opening of an inquest for his wife Audrey at 10.45am.

Moving tributes had been left at the scene on Minorca Close earlier this week after it had been confirmed Audrey had passed away.

On Tuesday Northumbria Police said the fire was not being treated as suspicious.

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A spokesperson for the force said: “Enquiries were carried out into the cause of the fire which is not being treated as suspicious. Officers are satisfied there is no third-party involvement."

The Northern Echo:

Locals told The Northern Echo this week of a sombre atmosphere in the community after the incident as the home had been boarded up.

One resident, Arthur Hamilton, described how the street had been left shocked after the blaze, saying: “I heard this ruckus at around 5am. We all feel just dismayed and we're in shock - this is the first time anything like this has happened.”

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