The man who died after a New Malden house fire suffered smoke inhalation, a postmortem examination has found.

The man was rescued by firefighters called to the blaze in Van Dyck Avenue about 9.20pm Friday but died soon after in hospital.

Police are treating the fire as suspicious and are looking for three Oriental women seen fleeing the property along with two children soon after the fire broke out.

They are also looking for an Oriental man seen leaving the house shortly before the blaze.

Detective Inspector Nick Mervin said: "We urgently need to trace the women and children as they may have been hurt by the fire and need treatment.

"They also may be able to assist us in identifying the deceased."

Fire investigators were yesterday still at the scene of the blaze, examining its cause.