A man found dead in his car at Beachy Head this morning following a fire at a house in Shoreham has been named by police.

He was Martyn Edward Saunders, aged 50, of Upper Shoreham Road, Shoreham.

Officers were called to the 50-year-old man’s house at 2.30am this morning after smoke was spotted coming from its loft.

The man was not present, and just after 8am passers-by found his car parked in a layby on Beachy Head Road, 200 yards west of the Beachy Head pub, and alerted police.

Officers found the man, his Yorkshire Terrier, and a handgun.

The man had a chest wound thought to be caused by a gunshot, and the dog also appears to have a firearms injury.

A note apparently written by the man was found at his home.

The house’s interior was extensively damaged by the fire, although no other houses were affected.

Police believed the blaze was arson, and there is no sign of forced entry. At this stage no other person is suspected of having been involved in the deaths.