A man was found dead after a fire at his East Ham home this morning.

Fire crews were called to Dukes Court in Barking Road shortly after 1.30am on.

More than 20 firefighters from East Ham, Plaistow and Barking tackled the fire in the second floor flat.

Police and ambulance crews were called by the Fire Brigade just before 2am.

Watch Manager Patrick Goulbourne, from East Ham fire station, said: “It was quite a severe fire and 50 per cent of the flat was damaged.

“We told the other residents to stay in their properties. We had control of the stairway so they were all safe.”

Two crews of four men equipped with breathing apparatus and thermal imaging cameras were sent into the five-room property.

They found the body of a man, believed to be in his 70s, in the living room.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The blaze is not thought to have been started deliberately.

Fire investigators and police scenes of crime officers are still at the scene trying to determine the cause.

Watch Manager Goulbourne said the smoke alarm in the flat had been working and had alerted other residents.

“But we would urge people to fit alarms and to check they are working correctly,” he added.