A MAN found dead in his home by neighbours following a fire died of a heart attack, an inquest has revealed.

Unemployed 55-year-old Michael Warsap, who lived alone at Rock Cottages in Hill Street, Kidderminster, was discovered collapsed by neighbour William Topliss.

An armchair in his living room had been on fire - but smoke inhalation was not the cause of death.

Worcestershire Coroner Victor Round recorded a verdict of death by natural causes at a hearing in Stourport.

"It was known that he had problems with alcohol and was a heavy smoker.

"It was because his neighbour hadn't seen him about that he went to investigate and found Mr Warsap lying on the floor, up against the door leading to the stairs. There was a smell of house fire but no fire by then," he said.

Mr Round added the fire damage was restricted to the armchair and the floor underneath. It is thought it had been caused by a cigarette.

Tests showed the amount of alcohol in Mr Warsap's blood was not enough to kill a man who was used to drink.

Police, an ambulance and two fire engines attended the scene after Mr Warsap, known to neighbours as Mick, was found at about 7pm on Tuesday, October 1.

"We all thought 'we know what's happened, it's obvious'," said Mr Round of the picture painted by the scene.

Mr Round concluded: "All the evidence suggests he may have been getting away from or trying to deal with a chair that was on fire.

"However, he died not from smoke inhalation but from a heart attack."