A flat fire in which an 81-year-old woman died was caused by petrol being poured throughout the property.

Police were called by the London Fire Brigade to a block of flats on Willow Court in Harrow at 1am on October 21 after a suspected gas explosion.

The body of Ratna Alexander was discovered by the London Fire Brigade at 4am inside one of the flats.

Detectives investigating the incident have said the fire was not caused by a gas explosion as first thought, but by petrol that had been poured within the flat.

A post-mortem will be carried out in due course, but Ms Alexander’s death is not being treated as suspicious.

Specialist scene examiners have ruled out third party involvement and police are not seeking anyone else in connection with their investigation.

The woman’s next of kin have been informed and a file has been sent to the coroner.