The death from the Forest Gate fire is now being treated as suspicious and a homicide investigation has been launched.

The death from the Forest Gate fire is now being treated as suspicious and a homicide investigation has been launched under Detective Chief Inspector Steve McCabe of the Homicide and Major Crime Command.

Whilst officers believe they know the identity of the deceased, they await formal identification and confirmation that all next of kin have been informed.

Enquiries continue to establish the full circumstances and detectives await a post-mortem examination; however at this stage officers believe the fire was started deliberately.

DCI McCabe says he needs to hear from anyone who saw anything suspicious in Field Road and the surrounding area in the early hours of Christmas Day.

The fire badly damaged the two story terraced property and crews wearing breathing apparatus found the body of a man on the ground floor. He was confirmed dead at the scene.

Four other people escaped the house before the Brigade arrived.