A 40-year old man, arrested on suspicion of murder following the death of a woman in a fire has been released on bail.

Police were called to the fire in Sackville Road, Bexhill, by East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service at 12.23am yesterday.

Debbie Reynolds, 42, was found inside the flat and rescued by firefighters but was pronounced dead shortly after 1am.

A man, who is believed to be Ms Reynold's partner Mark Gascoigne, managed to escape the fire and was taken to the Conquest Hospital in St Leonards for treatment for smoke inhalation.

He was later released and taken into custody in Eastbourne at 12.38pm yesterday but was bailed today until Tuesday July 19.

A post mortem examination which took place on Ms Reynold's body this afternoon was inconclusive and further pathology tests will be carried out over the coming weeks.

In the meantime no other information about the post mortem is being released.

DCI Nick May, who is leading the inquiry for Sussex Police Major Crime Branch, said: “The cause of the fire is still being investigated. There was significant fire and smoke damage throughout the flat and we are not currently in a position to conclusively state how and where the fire broke out.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Sussex Police on 0845 6070999, quoting Operation Kingshill.