A WELL-known Herefordshire farmer died following a small fire in his home, an inquest heard.

Hugh Snell, aged 81, was found by his son Nic on February 12 at around 8am in the hallway at his bungalow in Lower Lulham in Madley.

The house was full of smoke but the small fire, which had spread from the fireplace, was already out.

The inquest at Herefordshire Coroner's Court heard Mr Snell was unresponsive and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

A toxicology report showed he had breathed in smoke and had carboxyhaemoglobin levels of 36 percent- fatalities occur when exposure is in excess of 30 percent.

He had no underlying health issues which contributed to his death, the inquest heard.

Neil Lilwall, from the fire service, said the heat from the fire in the fire place in the lounge had radiated to the wooden surround, which had then ignited the adjacent kindling, log basket and flooring.

It did not spread any further, but would have generated considerable levels of smoke and heat in the lounge, he said.

Mr Lilwall was unable to determine exactly what happened but suggests Mr Snell fell asleep in an armchair in the lounge during the evening of February 11, and woke up surrounded by smoke.

He said Mr Snell would have felt disorientated and he then attempted to walk down the hallway before he fell.

Mr Snell's son, George, had seen his father the evening before, and told the inquest in a statement that his dad had felt unwell with a chesty cough.

Coroner Mark Bricknell recorded that Mr Snell died as a consequence of the effects of fire and that his death was accidental.

Mr Snell's son Anthony said: "It is just tragic, as he was enjoying life and this cut his life short by possibly ten years."