A 44-YEAR-OLD man has been found dead in a house in Beckenham following reports of an explosion.

Firefighters were called to a car fire in Gainsborough Close at 2.55pm yesterday (May 26).

Arriving at the scene they saw smoke coming from a nearby home and after forcing their way into the property found the man’s body inside.

The scene remains cordoned off this morning (May 27) while the police investigate what happened.

It is not known whether the dead man owned the Nissan Micra but police believe the two fires are connected.

Detective Inspector Jane Corrigan, from Bromley CID, said: "We are working with the fire investigation team to establish how the man has died.

"At the moment we are treating it as an unexplained death.

"The family have been informed."

Speaking to the News Shopper yesterday, Nick Kossov, who lives in nearby Silverwood Close, said it sounded like a bomb had gone off.

The 43-year-old said: “There was this massive bang and I heard metal coming down.

“All of a sudden there was enough smoke to suggest a house had caught fire.

“There were significant amounts of it coming over the top of the houses.

“Smoke was everywhere."

Call the newsroom on 01689 885711 if you saw what happened.