DISTRAUGHT neighbours of a man who died in a Poole flat fire were woken by the communal fire alarm, but turned it off thinking someone had simply burned some toast.

Tragically, toxic fumes from a slow burning fire - sparked by an electrical fault on an overloaded plug socket - were killing 31-year-old catering assistant Stuart Riley as he slumbered in his Victoria Road flat.

More than an hour after the alarm first sounded, in the early hours of May 23, smoke was spotted billowing from his flat in the converted Parkstone house. Firefighters later discovered his body.

Yesterday, at a Bournemouth inquest, East Dorset coroner Sheriff Payne heard how neighbours, who lived in the six flats at the converted detached house, saw no smoke and believed Mr Riley was not at home on the night in question.

Neighbour Nicola Baker said residents normally came out of their flats when the alarm sounded, as it often went off when they were cooking. Someone would usually apologise then deactivate it.

Firefighters confirmed the flats, which each had individual smoke detectors connected to a central system, exceeded fire safety regulations.

Holding back tears, Miss Baker added: "We thought Stuart had gone out somewhere for the evening, and when he didn't come out of his flat, we assumed he was still out."

But Stuart, who had a history of alcohol abuse and had been drinking, was probably asleep breathing in noxious fumes.

Fire investigator Paul Collins, of Dorset Fire and Rescue Service, said there were up to a dozen electrical appliances plugged in at an alcove in his flat's main room.

He concluded: "The alarm picked up the fire at a very early stage. It is possible that the people who woke at that stage would not be able to see any smoke.

"I don't believe the deceased woke at that stage. At some stage later he did wake up and tried to get out of his room."

Mr Riley, originally of Nottingham, who was suffering from the effects of smoke, was disorientated and collapsed close to an open window.

The coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death.