A RETIRED farmer whose body was found after a barn fire died from natural causes, and probably started the blaze by dropping a cigarette as he fell, an inquest has found.

Alan Edward Reece, 77 and originally from Hanmer, died on August 28, at his family farm in Baschurch.

An inquest was held into held into the death of Mr Reece on Tuesday, December 7 at Shirehall in Shrewsbury.

John Ellery, senior coroner for Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin heard the circumstances surrounding Mr Reece's death.

On Saturday, August 28, Shropshire Fire and Rescue were called to a farm in Walford Heath, Baschurch, to reports of a barn fire.

The police were called to the scene as Mr Reece was unaccounted for but sadly, his body was discovered in the barn.

Mr Ellery heard a report from Chris White, fire station manager, who listed the possible causes for the fire.

He ruled out refraction from sunlight and an electrical fault, as well as spontaneous combustion as the hay had been settled in the barn for around 11 weeks.

In his report, Mr White explained how smoking paraphernalia was discovered on Mr Reece, and it was his belief that a cigarette had caused the fire.

Mr Ellery also heard a report from pathologist Dr Ellen Cobby.

Her report explained that no soot had been found in Mr Reece's airways and it was therefore her belief that he had died before the fire had started from a medical cause, likely heart failure.

On hearing the evidence presented to him, Mr Ellery recorded a conclusion of death by natural causes.

He said: "On the evidence I have seen, we know what caused the fire, but I believe it was natural causes that lead him to him dropping the cigarette.

"And I’ll record the medical cause of death as unascertained.

"The conclusion was the death was naturally caused."