Darren Tooley said dad Maurice, 47, and his wife Kaye, 25, would still be alive if they had fitted an alarm at their flat in Wharton Street, South Shields.

The couple - who had only been married for four months - died in the early hours of October 7 last year after they were overcome by poisonous fumes.

An inquest at South Tyneside Magistrates' Court yesterday was told their deaths were attributed to smoke inhalation after discarded cigarettes sparked the fatal fire.

Keith Trotter, Tyne and Wear fire investigation officer, told the hearing the couple would have had a 95 per cent chance of survival if they had had a smoke alarm fitted.

Speaking after the inquest, 20-year-old Mr Tooley, of Ocean Road, South Shields, said: "A smoke alarm would have saved their lives. It's as simple as that. We just hope that others will learn from their mistake and make sure they have an alarm fitted in their home."

Mr Tooley, whose father was a smoker, also called on people not to light up at home.

The inquest was told the couple returned home after a night out drinking and went to bed sometime around midnight.

Just before 1am police received a call from an elderly lady living in the flat below, reporting a disturbance upstairs.

When officers arrived they noticed smoke coming from the back of the premises.

Three fire crews from South Shields and Hebburn arrived at the scene and forced entry with a battering ram.

Firefighters, wearing breathing apparatus, found Mrs Tooley slumped beside her bed and her husband was lying near the top of the stairs.

Despite neither victim breathing, or a showing signs of a pulse, fire officers spent almost 30 minutes trying to resuscitate them.

Both were later pronounced dead at South Tyneside District Hospital.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Coroner Terence Carney commended fire officers for their gallant efforts, adding: "We have heard much about smoke alarms. I'm sure that had a smoke alarm been in this house it could well have saved these two unfortunate people.

"It's not a criticism of the couple, I myself don't have an adequate smoke alarm in my home either, which is an omission I will be directing my mind to speedily."

Late last year firefighters launched Operation Early Warning, fitting hundreds of smoke alarms in 'at risk' homes in the borough.

Tyne and Wear currently has the best rate in the country for fires which have been detected by the alarms.

After the inquest, Mr Tooley junior revealed his father, a lifelong Newcastle United fan, was to have his ashes scattered at St James's Park.