AN INQUEST has been opened into the tragic deaths of two young people who were found dead in a car.

Coroner Eleanor McGann heard that Thomas Putt, 20, of Wren Close, Leigh, and Nikki Willis, 23, of Fox Crescent, Chelmsford, were found unresponsive in his Ford Fiesta car outside her home.

Opening the inquest, coroner’s officer David Dinnell said: “On the morning of Monday, December 5 Nikki Willis and Tom Putt were both found in responsive in a vehicle.

“Paramedics arrived and confirmed they had both passed away. Police attended and all protocols were followed.”

The following day at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford pathologist Dr Ben Swift carried out a post-mortem examination, which proved inconclusive.

An exact cause of death is yet to be determined as the court is still waiting for toxicology and histology reports however detectives have said their current investigations do not indicate the deaths of the pair were the result of a deliberate act.

It is believed Miss Willis, who worked in electronics shop CeX, and Mr Putt, an apprentice for Ford Motor Company, could have died from carbon monoxide poisoning leaking from Mr Putt’s brand new £17,000 blue Ford Fiesta ST.

Essex police have advised anyone who has modifications carried out to their vehicle by someone other than a mechanic to have it checked as a safety precaution.

The Fiesta hot hatch was parked outside the home Nikki shares with her mother Michelle Hindson, 46, and stepfather Stuart Hindson, 45, in Chelmsford, Essex.

Coroner Eleanor McGann adjourned the inquest until 10am on March 17 next year.