AN elderly man was found dead by firefighters in the living room of his home this morning.

Firefighters were called to a kitchen fire in the semi-detached house in Maritime Crescent, Horden, near Peterlee shortly before 9am.

The man, believed to be in his 70s, appears to have been overcome by smoke.

The fire brigade said there were no suspicious circumstances.

Updated: 11.30 Friday, April 20