Body discovered at scene of fire

A police inquiry has been launched after the discovery of a 59-year-old man's body outside a blazing house early today.


Firemen were called to the fire at Awakeri, 15km from Whakatane about 2.30am.


They found the man's body in the vicinity of the gutted house and alerted police.


Police said today that it was too early to say how the man died.


It was not know if the dead man occupied the house.


- NZPA