Southampton coroner Keith Wiseman has ended his summing up of the evidence heard at the inquest of two city fireman.

Mr Wiseman sent out the jury at 3pm this afternoon to consider their verdict on the deaths of James Shears and Alan Bannon.

Over the past 15 days, they have heard evidence from those who tackled the blaze with the pair, fire experts, police officers and other witnesses from the scene at Shirley Towers on April 6, 2010.

In directing the jury Mr Wiseman said they could choose from three possible verdicts: accidental death, death by misadventure or a narrative verdict which would detail what they felt were the exact circumstances that led to the firefighters’ deaths.

He also directed the jury to consider evidence they have heard over whether a breathing apparatus emergency could have been called earlier, the communication between key officers overseeing the incident and tactics used to fight the fire.

Mr Bannon, 38, of Bitterne, Southampton, and Mr Shears, 35, from Poole, died after being overcome by excessive heat.

Proceeding