IT could be weeks before police can confirm the identity of a man found dead in a house fire in Nelson.

A fire broke out at 5.45pm on New Year's Eve at a house in Every Street rented by Phil Lewis, 30.

Firefighters discovered the body of a man in a chair in a back room while they were tackling the blaze.

Inspector Steve Brunskill said: "The man who died is believed to be the house owner, but we will not be able to confirm that until the results of DNA tests which could take weeks.

"His family have been made aware.

"A report from a neighbour that there had been a fight outside the house the night before the fire has not been able to be substantiated.

"A report from the forensics says it looks like an accidental fire.

"The gas fire had been on and possibly something came into contact with it and that caused the fire.

"It appears to be an accident and that it how we are treating it at the moment."

Home Office Pathologist Dr John Rutherford attended the scene and has carried out a post mortem examination but it was inconclusive.

Samples have been sent away for forensic and toxicology reports.

The death has been reported to East Lancashire coroner David Smith.