A huge police investigation has been launched into the fatal fire at a flat in Douglas at the weekend.

The victim, a man in his 60s who hasn't been named, was discovered by fire crews at the property in Demesne Road on Sunday morning.

Police say three separate blazes were started in the area in the hours leading to the tragedy, the first in the yard of a house in Buck's Road, on Saturday afternoon.

At 2.30am on Sunday a fire was discovered in a house in nearby Peveril Street, then half an hour later another blaze erupted at an address in Clarke Street. All those properties are now under police guard.

More than 60 officers are involved in what Chief Constable Mike Langdon has described as a 'murder style' investigaiton.

Mr Langdon told Manx Radio the circumstances were extremely suspicious:

"Professional judgement tells you the number of fires that have occurred, within such a small proximity and small area, are highly suspicious and in my view they merit a murder investigation.

"However, the detailed forensic examination that's necessary to confirm that professional judgement can't be completed, and probably won't be completed, for a few days.

"These are detailed searches, carried out by professionally trained search officers, and they will carry on those searches for as long as it takes."