Victims of the devastating Grenfell Tower blaze may have been poisoned by cyanide gas released by the deadly cladding surrounding the building, experts have claimed.

At least three people injured in the fire in north Kensington have been treated in hospital with a cyanide antidote, but the numbers affected by the toxic gas could be higher.

It comes as husband and wife Omar Belkadi, 32, and his nursery nurse wife Farah Hamdan, 31, are officially named as two more of the victims of the blaze.

Victims of the devastating Grenfell Tower blaze may have been poisoned by cyanide gas released by the deadly cladding surrounding the building, experts have claimed. It comes as husband and wife Omar Belkadi, 32, and his nursery nurse wife Farah Hamdan, 31, (pictured together) are officially named as two more of the victims of the fire

Professor Richard Hull, from the University of Central Lancashire, described how cyanide poisoning may have been a contributing factor in the deaths of Grenfell Tower victims.

He said it was 'an accident waiting to happen', having conducted a study in 2011 that found PIR was the most toxic insulation material being used, out of six materials tested.

Speaking on Sky News, he said: 'The outside wall of the building had 150mm of PIR foam [fitted], and once the fire had spread to that every flat would have its own source of PIR foam, which would have produced enough hydrogen cyanide to kill all the people in that flat.'

Discussing the findings of his report, he said: 'It’s been an accident waiting to happen and unfortunately we’ve got to the stage now where the accident has happened and we’re standing here saying "I told you so".

'It would have been much better if people had listened to us earlier on when we published the report.'

It is feared cladding fixed to the outside of the 24-storey tower block before the blaze may have allowed the fire to spread quickly, trapping and killing at least 79 residents.

Nursery nurse Ms Hamdan was pronounced dead at the scene. Her six-month-old daughter Leena is still believed to be missing

On Wednesday, a husband and wife were named as two more victims of the devastating Grenfell Tower fire, as the first inquests into those who died in the blaze opened.

Mr Belkadi and his nursery nurse wife Ms Hamdan - who lived in Flat 175 on the 20th floor of the north Kensington tower block - died from smoke inhalation, Westminster Coroner's Court heard.

Their daughters Tamzin Belkadi, six, and Malek, eight, were found in hospital by relatives following the blaze, but their six-month-old baby Leena is still missing.

One of the girls was reportedly in a coma and the other sedated because of trauma, according to family members.

London-born Ms Hamdan was recovered from the fire on 15 June and pronounced dead at the scene. She died of smoke inhalation and was identified by her dental records.

The London Fire Brigade also recovered her Moroccan husband Mr Belkadi from the tower on 15 June and he was declared dead at the scene.

The court heard that he died of inhalation of fire fumes and was also identified by dental records.

Coroner Dr Fiona Wilcox was emotional as she opened the inquests of the first five Grenfell Tower fire victims today, saying she could not imagine the agony suffered by those who perished.

The inquest heard how Anthony Keith Disson, 65 and Khadija Khalloufi, 52, died from inhaling fire fumes as the blaze took hold of the 24-storey block.

Grandfather Mr Disson, who was living in Flat 194 on the 10th floor, was said to have phoned his sons at 3am to say he was trapped in his bathroom.

The Hammersmith-born retired lorry driver later reportedly told a friend: 'Tell my sons that I love them'.

His body was recovered from inside the building on 14 June and pronounced dead at the scene the following day.

He died of 'inhalation of fire fumes' was identified by his fingerprints.

Fellow resident Ms Khalloufi, from Morocco, lived in Flat 143 on the 17th floor and was separated from her husband Sabah Abdullah as they tried to escape.

An inquest into the deaths of five Grenfell Tower victims opened at Westminster Coroner's Court today. The coroner heard how Khadija Khalloufi, 52, (left) and Anthony Keith Disson, 65, (right) died from inhaling fire fumes

She was found 'unresponsive relatively near to her home address' on 14 June and pronounced dead at the scene.

A post-mortem listed her death as inhalation of fire fumes. She was identified by her fingerprints.

Mr Abdullah, who survived the fire, had previously described the moment he lost grip of his wife's hand as they attempted to flee the tower block.

He told MailOnline: 'It was a stampede, with killer smoke. I could see only half a metre in front of me. The noise was indescribable.

‘I thought, OK, my wife is behind me. All I need to do is keep my hand in her hand and the other hand over my nose.

Ms Khalloufi, from Morocco, lived in Flat 143 on the 17th floor and was separated from her husband Sabah Abdullah (right) as they tried to escape. Mr Abdullah survived the fire

‘But how could I keep my balance? They kept pushing me left and right, how could I balance?

‘I found myself letting go of her hand and putting my hand on the rail. I thought she was safe behind me.'

The inquest also heard how shopkeeper Abufras Mohamed Ibrahim, 39, from Sudan, jumped to his death as the fire ripped through the building.

He lived in south Kensington and was visiting his 70-year-old mother Fathaya Alsanousi on the 23rd floor.

Mr Hamilton told the court he was 'seen by emergency services to come from the building and land near to foot of the building'. He was identified by his fingerprints and by his cousin.

His sister Esra Ibrahim, 35 was also reported missing.

The death toll from the devastating fire in north Kensington on June 14 currently stands at 79, with fears that it could be higher

Sixty-five people were rescued by firefighters, from the tower, which contained 127 flats and 227 bedrooms at the time of the fire.

Rescuers have said they do not think they will find anyone else alive in what remains of the tower block.

DCI Matt Bonner, the chief investigating officer, told the court that there was no evidence the fire was deliberately started.

'Tragically the fire resulted in significant loss of life and serious life changing injuries.

'A significant number of families and a large part of the wider community have been effected.

As the inquest opened, coroner Dr Fiona Wilcox (pictured) said she could not imagine the agony suffered by those who perished in the Grenfell Tower disaster

'The fire was quickly declared a major incident. The speed and spread of the fire was unexpected.'

DCI Bonner said an investigation led by the Met Police the London Fire Brigade and other relevant expert organisations was under way.

He said the investigation would look to see if any criminal offences had been committed that led to the fire.

DCI Bonner said: 'We will identify and investigate any criminal offences that have been committed under criminal law.

'The investigation will examine and review all relative regulations, fire safety regulations, health and safety legislation and building regulations and any other statutory of regulatory framework.'

The cause of the fire is yet to be confirmed but is believed to have been a faulty refrigerator that burst into flames in a fourth-floor flat.

The speed at which the fire spread is reportedly believed to have been aided by the building's recently added exterior cladding.

After formally opening the inquests, Dr Wilcox adjourned the inquest until after the criminal investigation has taken place.

She said: 'These inquests will be adjourned in the interest of justice to allow the criminal investigations on behalf of the Metropolitan Police.

'I want to take the opportunity to formally record in court my sincere condolences to everyone touched by these deaths and my thanks to the emergency services for their heroic efforts that have been undertaken and remain ongoing since the event.

'This is sadly the first of five of what are going to be very many inquest openings.'

The cause of the fire is yet to be confirmed but is believed to have been a faulty refrigerator that burst into flames in a fourth-floor flat

Dr Wilcox said she had so far 'identified seven of the deceased' and there would be more identification 'imminently' today and over the next few days.

The other victims to have been officially identified are 24-year-old artist Ya-Haddy Sisi Saye, also known as Khadija, and 23-year-old Syrian refugee Mohammad Alhajali.

Dr Wilcox said: 'Identification in this instance is particularly difficult because of the complex nature of the scene.'

'Again I would like to pass my sympathies to all of those who are bereaved and who are waiting on the service of this court. I cannot imagine their agony.'

She said the coroner's service would do 'everything it can' to help the police investigation and the identification and forensic examination of the deceased and the court was working at 'full capacity'.

Dr Wilcox said it was 'very important' that the inquests were done in public.