A HOUSE fire that killed a Gobowen man was most likely caused by a dropped cigarette - and could have been made worse by flammable skin cream, an inquest heard.

Raymond Geoffrey Barnett, 72, originally from Wolverhampton, died at his home in Gobowen on Wednesday, January 11.

The inquest into Mr Barnett's death took place on Thursday, April 27 in Shirehall in Shrewsbury in front of the chief coroner for Shropshire Telford and Wrekin John Ellery. The inquest heard that the 72-year-old was suffering from cancer and lived alone.

He was relatively immobile and struggled to get out of his chair in the living room, the inquest heard, and was also told that he was a heavy smoker.

Fire investigators ruled out an electrical fault as the cause of the fire and pointed to cigarettes being the likely cause of it.

READ MORE: Man died in Gobowen house fire

The court also heard Mr Barnett had an emollient flammable cream, which is used for people with sore skin, applied to him and this was raised as something which could have contributed to the fire.

The inquest also heard that a similar emollient flammable cream may have contributed to a house fire in Morda a month earlier which claimed the lives of Eileen and Alan Metcalfe.

In a statement, fire investigator Jim Baker said: "It is my opinion that he attempted to smoke a cigarette in a severe state of fragility and dropped the lit cigarette onto the surface of the chair or the folding fabric of it or silent night pillow.

"This is where it came into direct contact with the surface fabric of the chair and all of the silent night pillow and surface fabric material."

Want to stay up to date with all the latest stories from Oswestry and the surrounding area? Click here to sign up for our morning and daily email newsletters and click on the + for the ‘Morning Briefing’ and the 'Daily Catch-Up'.

Police confirmed that money was found in Mr Barnett's house and did not believe there were any suspicious circumstances into his death.

A police statement read to the court said: "No neighbours reported any sounds of disturbances.

"There was no evidence of any thefts and he did not have any injuries to suggest he was assaulted.

Mr Ellery confirmed to the court the results of the post-mortem carried out on Mr Barnett.

He said: "A deceased male was found in a chair.

"Police are satisfied there are no suspicious circumstances.

"A post-mortem was carried out and it gave smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning as a cause of the death."

Mr Ellery recorded a conclusion of accidental death.