A man who poured fuel on himself and his former mother-in-law before igniting it had no history of mental health issues, an inquest has heard.

Witnesses told the Echo that Kieren Lynch, 50, of Tewkes Road, Canvey, was armed with a machete when he stormed a house in Boyce Green, Benfleet, last Tuesday.

Yesterday, an inquest into the circumstances surrounding his death opened at the coroner’s court in Chelmsford.

Coroner’s officer Gemma Cook said: “At 10.40am he was seen to pour the contents of a container over himself and immediately became engulfed in flames.

“Essex Police and Essex County Fire and Rescue Service attended and he was conveyed to Broomfield burns unit. His death was confirmed at 8.30pm.

“A post mortem revealed the cause of death as burns awaiting histology and toxicology.”

Homeowner Jenny Cronin, 72, was also set alight and is still in a critical but stable condition at Broomfield Hospital, having received serious burns.

Senior coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray said: “I shall require a copy of the post mortem, any histology and toxicology reports.

“I shall very importantly require the police statements and the police reports.

"The court understands the IOPC is also producing a report. This gentleman hasn’t recently been known to mental health services.”

Before Mr Lynch was flown to Broomfield hospital he was arrested by police officers on suspicion of attempted murder.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) confirmed they were notified of Mr Lynch’s death as a matter of protocol.

An IOPC spokesperson said: “We received a mandatory referral from Essex Police following the death of a 50-year-old man after an incident in Benfleet.

“We are currently assessing that referral to determine the level, if any, of our involvement.”

Police have confirmed they believe the attack was deliberate.