Driver 'failed to warn of fire'

A fresh inquest into the deaths of 13 young people in a house fire more than 20 years ago heard that a passing motorist failed to warn the occupants when he saw their curtains ablaze.

Peter Daniels, who was too ill to attend the new hearing at Inner London Crown Court, told the original inquiry in 1981 he thought it would be best to drive to a police station to raise the alarm at 6am on 18 January when he noticed the curtains in the ground floor window of 439 New Cross Road were alight.

The first inquest returned open verdicts.

The High Court ordered a fresh inquest in 2002 following a campaign by relatives.