THE death of a man in a caravan blaze was likely to have been an accident, said a coroner who ruled out suicide.

The body of Graham Royston Chapman was found badly burned underneath the chimney of a wood burning stove in the remains of the caravan in which he lived beside the roadside at Llanddew, on the northern outskirts of Brecon on July 10 this year.

Handyman Mr Chapman was due to be evicted from the land his caravan was on by Powys County Council on July 10, just three days after the fatal blaze.

Powys Coroner Andrew Barkley said at the inquest held in Aberdare, that he was 'not satisfied to anything like the required standard' that the 61-year-old had intended to take his own life.

Mr Barkley recorded a narrative verdict and said: "Graham Roston Chapman died as a result of extensive burns sustained inside the caravan he lived alone in. It is not clear what caused the fire to start but on balance the evidence indicates it was the result of an accident."

For the full story buy this weeks Brecon & Radnor Express - on sale now.