A COUPLE who died in a flat blaze were yesterday named as Joanne Pape and Michael McGinley.

The pair, both aged 28, were pulled from the burning building but were pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.

A police cordon remained outside the building in Albert Road, Middlesbrough, throughout the day as officers and fire investigators studied the cause of the blaze.

Detective Inspector Stan Drummond, of Cleveland Police, said that a forensic scientist has been on site to investigate the fire, which started at about 5.50am yesterday above clothes store Triads.

He said: "There is no definite answer yet, but it is probably not malicious.

"However, there were no smoke alarms fitted in the flat, which could have helped prevent the fatalities.

"There have been post-mortems carried out which indicate that they both died of smoke inhalation."

A shop worker, who witnessed the traumatic scene, said: "I saw smoke coming out of the window but there didn't seem to be that much - then the fire engines began to arrive."

At the height of the fire, five crews from Marine, Middlesbrough, Grangetown and Thornaby tackled the blaze.

Divisional Officer Mike Smith said the fire was confined to the second-floor flat where the pair slept.

Occupants from two other flats on the second floor and two flats on the third floor escaped through fire exits and were not injured.

Mr Smith said: "There was smoke and flames issuing from the second-floor flat at the front.

"The doors were locked and the fire was confined to the flat of origin. Fire personnel had to make a forced entry in that flat.

"Two people were rescued by the fire brigade, but they were later confirmed dead on arrival at hospital.

"The indications at the moment are that the fire started in the bedroom, where the two people were asleep."

Last night, relatives from the victims' families were too upset to talk about the incident.