Mystery surrounds the death of a hero who saved his wife and her sister from a burning house.

Peter Wennington was discovered in his Middlesbrough home, on Friday, at about 11.30am, by a friend.

The cause of death is not known but an inquest has been opened and adjourned at Teesside Coroners' Court.

His wife, Maureen, said one of his favourite pastimes was to spend hours playing football and sharing his other hobbies with her two children Thomas, 12, and Andrew, ten.

"They adored him," she said. "They would play on the computer with him and play football with all the other local kids.

"He was always playing football with the kids at the end of the road. He would be out with them nearly every day after school.

"When the weather was nice, he used to take the kids up Eston Hills once every couple of weeks."

Mr Wennington was found on the settee in the living room of the Dorothy Street home he shared with his family. Last month, he saved the lives of his 33-year-old wife and her sister, Maria Docherty, 27, when they were trapped unconscious in a house fire at Miss Docherty's home, across the street from his Dorothy Street home.

Mr Wennington forced his way into the property and carried the two sisters out for a neighbour to administer first aid. Other neighbours also helped in the rescue.

Mrs Wennington said: "Everybody in this street gets on with each other. He was part of a good community and he will be missed by everyone who met him.

"He had so many friends. Everyone is devastated."

Maureen said her husband, known for his big smile, loved watching Middlesbrough, films and reading, having developed a passion for the Harry Potter books.

Father-in-law William Docherty, 62, said: "He was a brilliant son-in-law. No one ever had a problem with him. If he could do anything for you he would.

"He was free and easy, and he got on with everyone. It's tragic, he was a young lad just starting in life."

His funeral service is to be held at the North Ormesby's Trinity Church, tomorrow, at 9.45am.