A coroner has offered her condolences to the family of three people killed in a house fire as she opened their inquests this morning.

Patricia Harding said Amanda Crook must be "absolutely devastated" at the deaths of her daughter, grandson and husband at the family home in Chatham Hill.

Noah Crook, aged 15 months, died with his mother Melissa, 20, in a horrific blaze. Noah's grandfather Mark, 49, died of his fire injuries six days later.

Opening and adjourning inquests into all three deaths, Mrs Harding said: "It's a tragedy to lose one family member in a fire, here Amanda Crook has lost not only her daughter and grandson but her husband as well.

"She must be absolutely devastated. I pass on my condolences."

The family are understood to be planning a funeral.

Melissa's estranged husband, 23-year-old car salesman Danai Muhammadi, is one of three people awaiting trial over their murder.

Muhammadi, of Britannia Street, Coventry, faces three murder charges and two attempted murder charges along with associate Farhad Mahmud, 35, of Fernhill Road, Maidstone.

Muhammadi's girlfriend Emma Smith, 21, from Coventry, is charged with conspiracy to murder and arson with intent to endanger life.

A trial for all three defendants has been set for March.