A house fire which left a man and his dogs dead was “probably” started by cooking left unattended.

Christopher Head was rushed to Darent Valley Hospital, Dartford, following a ground floor blaze at his home in Rochester Road, Gravesend, in September last year.

The 56-year-old was placed on life-support but died two days later from damage thought to have been caused by inhaling carbon monoxide and other noxious gases.

His two dogs, Alfie and puppy Syd, died at the scene of the blaze.

An inquest held at Archbishop’s Palace, Maidstone, revealed how the fire started in his kitchen but spread easily through the lower floor as plastic car parts he had been hoarding were set alight.

A neighbour saw smoke and flames and, after initially thinking the source was a bonfire, realised something was wrong and dialled 999.

Four fire engines were sent to the property shortly after 10.30pm on September 26 where crews discovered flames roaring from sliding doors at the rear of his house.

They battled the flames and found two dogs which they treated with oxygen but the pets could not be saved.

Laurence Pater, Kent Fire and Rescue station manager, read from the forensic report during the hearing.

“The remnants of an aluminium pan were found on the hob with the corresponding control knob in the ‘on’ position,” he said

“There was no evidence of other external or intentional cause of the fire

“It was probably caused by cooking left unattended with combustible materials in the vicinity of the hob causing the fire to spread.”

Neighbours paid tribute to the former tugboat engineer, leaving cards and flowers on his doorstep.

Sylvia Howie, who lives nearby, said: “He was a real character, a charmer. He was full of life - you couldn’t dislike him. He had his moments and he was always laughing.”