TRIBUTES have been paid to a couple killed in a horrific house fire along with their pet dog.

Paul Cox, 51, and Jennifer Jones, 40, died in the flames at their home near Nottingham, alongside their Jack Russell named Scoobie.

The blaze engulfed their two-storey, mid-terraced house in Sneinton in the early hours of March 26.

Police today confirmed it was a tragic accident, possibly sparked by an electrical fault.

Neighbours raised the alarm after they were awoken by loud bangs as the fire ripped through the Victorian property at 12.43am.

Firefighters battled for almost two hours to extinguish the inferno before the bodies of Paul, Jennifer and Scoobie were found inside.

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Friends of the couple said Paul had returned from the pub just hours before the blaze.

Paying tribute to the joiner, one local said: "Paul was a lovely bloke and Jennifer was always cheerful too."

They added: "From what people around here are saying, it was an electrical fault, maybe a toaster or something like that.

"They'd probably been to the pub, come home and made a snack but the fire broke out after they'd crashed out in bed.

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"The speed of the fire was frightening, it just tore through the property.

"People who saw the bodies being brought out say they were badly burned."

Others also honoured "grafter" Paul, who "lived for his dog" and had lived in the Victorian home for 15 years.

It is understood the couple got together in 2021, with Jennifer declaring on Facebook in November last year that she was the "happiest I've been in decades".

Sharon Jones, understood to be Jennifer's mum, said in response: "Love you darling. Make the rest of your lives the best ever, you deserve it.

"Thank you for making her feel loved Paul."

'A LOVELY BLOKE'

A neighbour, who declined to be named, said: "He was a self employed joiner and grafted hard.

"He didn’t have any kids but lived for his Jack Russell Scoobie who went everywhere with him.

"He lived that little dog and we’d always see them out and about together.

"Paul recently had a new girlfriend who used to stay round but I didn’t know her, only to say 'hello'.

"It’s tragic. He was a decent chap and we’re sorry he died so horrifically.

"The fire was totally out of control and those two poor people and the dog didn’t stand a chance."

Another local said: "Everyone is very shocked. We all knew Paul and he was always out walking his dog.

"A neighbour told me he saw the bodies being brought out from his bedroom window and they were left uncovered for a few moments before being put into the police tent.

"The man had facial and leg burns and the woman’s body was totally destroyed."

He lived that little dog and we’d always see them out and about together.

The manager of the local convenience store described Paul as "a lovely chap" who was "always pleasant".

"He was only in the shop last weekend buying his cigarettes while his dog waited outside," they added.

"He had a partner, I think she was new, a pretty girl with long blonde hair and I saw her around but didn’t know her. It is extremely sad."

Paul – nicknamed TinTin – lived in the terraced row of seven where a neighbouring house caught on fire a year ago.

A nearby resident said: "A house a few doors down was partly wrecked by a blaze, think it was caused by an electrical fault, but luckily no one was injured."

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Detective Sergeant James Hirst, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: "Our thoughts are with the families and friends at this difficult time.

"Their deaths are not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner."

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