AN INQUEST has been opened and adjourned into the death of toddler Joshua Paessens who perished in a house fire in Hastings Avenue, Cliftonville, near Margate, on Monday morning.

The blaze gutted the home and also spread to adjoining properties.

A post-mortem has been carried out on Joshua who was aged one year and 11 months. The body was identified by his father, Joseph.

Other members of the family survived the fire. They were treated at Margate's Queen Mother Hopsital.

Forensic investigators from Kent Police and Kent Fire and Rescue Service are still trying to identify the cause of the tragedy.

The inquest will be resumed later this year pending further inquiries.