A house fire that resulted in the tragic deaths of an elderly married couple was likely caused by cigarettes or matches, an inquest has heard.
Alfred and Audrey Crawford died following a fire at their home in Minorca Close, Hendon, Sunderland, last year. Firefighters were called to their two storey home on October 31 with Mrs Crawford sadly being pronounced dead at the scene. Mr Crawford was taken to Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary where he died the following day on November 1. The couple were both 79-years-old.
On Wednesday, an inquest was held at Sunderland Coroner's Court and heard that Mrs Crawford was believed to have regularly smoked in bed and that "smoking materials" were the most likely cause of the blaze. Mrs Crawford regularly slept in a bed in the living room, with Mr Crawford, a retired joiner, generally either sleeping upstairs, or on a downstairs sofa.
