A MAN who died after his cigarette caused a blaze in his home lived a sad and futile life, a Cheshire coroner concluded.

A Chester inquest heard how a carelessly discarded cigarette caused the death of Alan John Dodsworth, 52, of Burton Road, Blacon, after his living room burst into flames on January 12 this year.

Coroner Nicholas Rheinberg heard evidence from family, neighbours, police and the fire service to determine the cause of death. In his conclusion he said: 'John Dodsworth lived an exceedingly sad and, perhaps a little unkindly, futile life in his last years.'

A police report described how on one visit to Mr Dodsworth's home, he had been seen to drop cigarettes on the floor without properly extinguishing them.

During the course of the inquest, several references were made to Mr Dodsworth's domination of his mother Josephine, who had lived with him until shortly before his death.

The court heard that Mr Dodsworth would rarely leave the house, frequently sending his mother to the shops to buy him cigarettes and alcohol.

Evidence was presented from assistant divisional officer Barry Champken, who investigated the fire.

He said the fire service had been alerted at 4.57pm and three appliances had attended.

Four firefighters wearing breathing apparatus braved the flames in an effort to rescue him, but he died at the scene.

ADO Champken identified numerous cigarette ends, lighters and smoking materials scattered around the room but ruled out malicious ignition.

A pathologist's report determined the cause of death as asphyxia due to smoke inhalation.

Concluding, Mr Rheinberg said: 'Mr Dodsworth would typically spend his time drinking and smoking. The alcohol had taken a toll on his life.'

He said the fire originated in the corner of the living room, in an armchair, and that a lit cigarette may have dropped on to it. He was satisf ied that there was no third party involvement and ruled that Mr Dodsworth had died of asphyxiation because of the fire.