Two men who died in a flat fire may have been involved in a gruesome suicide pact.

A coroner recorded an open verdict on Wednesday after he failed to rule out the possibility that the pair could have deliberately barricaded themselves in and started the fire which killed them.

The tragedy occurred on January 18 at the flat of Garfield Haveron in Vernon Corner, Stock.

Following the incident police said they could not rule out the possibility that the deaths of Mr Haveron, 50, and Murray Kemp, 37, were the result of a gruesome suicide pact.

Jack Imrie, station officer at Basildon fire station, told the hearing at Chelmsford Coroner's Court how firefighters forced their way past a television, vacuum cleaner and chair as they battled to get into the burning flat.

They broke down two doors to find the flat filled with smoke from a smouldering mattress in the lounge.

A report from a forensic investigator, read at the hearing, stated: "In my opinion the most likely cause of the fire was the deliberate ignition of a mattress or items upon it."

Postmortem examinations concluded that both men had died from a mixture of smoke inhalation and overdoses of anti-depressants. Mr Haveron was also suffering from heart disease.

John Coffin, GP to both men, told the hearing that on two occasions prior to the fire the men had suggested taking their own lives by setting fire to Mr Haveron's flat.

On the day before the fire Mr Kemp had attended the surgery to collect an extra supply of his medication.

Mr Coffin said: "Our practice manager saw Mr Kemp that day and said he seemed his normal self."

He said that despite the prior suggestions of suicide there were no particular worries about his state of mind at that time.

Coroner Dr Malcolm Weir, said: "There is some evidence to suggest they took their own lives - but not enough evidence of intent to confirm a verdict of suicide."

Members of both families were present to hear Dr Weir record his verdict.

David Lawton, solicitor for the Kemp family, said: "On the evidence available this is clearly the correct verdict."

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