POLICE and fire investigators yesterday ruled out any suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of an elderly man in a North-East house blaze.

Firefighters who forced their way into the house, in Grant's Houses, Horden, east Durham, found the man slumped on a sofa in the living room at the front of the property.

He was declared dead at the scene by a police surgeon called to the house, in Maritime Crescent, at about 9.30am yesterday.

A police spokesman said: "The blaze appears to have started in the kitchen of the house and this area has suffered extensive fire and smoke damage.

"The cause is under investigation, but as far as the police are concerned it's not being treated as suspicious."

North Durham coroner's officer has been informed of the death and inquest proceedings are expected to begin in the next few days.

Police were last night still trying to trace relatives of the dead man, and, as they had experienced difficulty in contacting some members of his immediate family, were unable to announce his identity.

But they confirmed he was a 71-year-old man, who is thought to have lived alone.

Divisional fire officer Ian Dockerty, of Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Brigade, confirmed the seat of the fire appeared to be in the kitchen.