A POPULAR couple drowned together in the swimming pool of their home as the result of a tragic accident.

Martin Winfield and Alan Green, who had been planning to wed at a civil partnership ceremony, were found dead in the pool by Mr Winfield's three children at the couple's home in White Gates,Wichenford, between Worcester and Martley, an inquest into their deaths heard today (Tuesday).

Although it will never be known precisely what happened in the absence of any witnesses, the family say they were both dressed in their swimming clothes when they were found.

The inquest heard that Mr Winfield, a 59-year-old plastics operative, was a non-swimmer although he had been trying to learn.

His partner of three years, Alan Green, a 75-year-old retired accountant, could stay afloat but was not an especially competent swimmer and could only swim on his back a family friend told the court in Stourport.

The couple had been due to fly out to Naxos in Greece on the afternoon of July 2 for a holiday.

The alarm was raised when Mr Winfield failed to turn up at his work at Reddiplex Ltd in Droitwich that same morning.

Mr Winfield had worked for the company in Droitwich for 30 years.

Paul Winfield, one of Mr Winfield's children, told the coroner: "He could not swim. He just sank. He spent his whole life staying away from it."

When it was discovered the couple had not attended the house in Naxos, owned by Mr Green, Mr Winfield's children attended their home in Wichenford where they found both men in the pool at around 5.30pm on July 3.

A post-mortem revealed that neither man had any alcohol or drugs in their bodies or any evidence of pre-existing natural disease and there was no toxicological explanation for either death.

The medical cause of death for both men was recorded as drowning.

The conclusion was recorded as 'accidental death' for both Mr Winfield and Mr Green.

Both men died, on the balance of probabilities, on July 1, two days before they were found by Mr Winfield's family the assistant coroner for Worcestershire David Reid, told the court.

He said: "May I offer everyone my sincere condolences for what is a very sad and traumatic set of circumstances?"

Mr Winfield's children, Steve, Claire and Paul, and his ex-wife of 25 years, Patricia, were present at the inquest as was a family friend of Mr Green.

All did not wish to c omment but there have beenmany previous tributes expressed in the Worcester News by the family and friends of both men.

The family of Mr Winfield had previously described him as a 'fantastic dad', their 'best friend', their 'hero' and a 'gentleman' with an infectious sense of humour.

Although originally from Oxfordshire Mr Winfield, who loved music and Tottenham Hotspur, raised his children in Worcester, all three attending Christopher Whitehead School.

His family had been particularly proud of the way he changed people's opinions about gay people.

Alan Green was also described by friends as 'a great guy' and together the two men were referred to as 'fabulous friends'.