THE brave efforts of a husband, who was forced to fight through the smoke as he went to his wife's aid, were too late, an inquest heard.

Christine Madden, aged 72, died from a tragic accident when a fire broke out in the home which the couple had built together on Barleycastle Lane in Appleton.

The inquest heard how on the night of the fire the couple, who slept in separate bedrooms, had both gone to bed at around 10pm on October 15, 2014.

But Michael's life was turned upside down when he was woken by the smell of smoke at around 2am.

The 82-year-old said: "I could smell smoke and, as I moved from room to room, the smoke got more and more intense until I got to my wife's bedroom.

"I could not see at all so I had to go and get a torch."

When he entered his wife's room, Christine was nowhere to be seen.

But, after a frantic search, Michael discovered his wife 'slumped on the bathroom floor'.

The emergency services were called and the couple of 48 years were taken to Warrington Hospital.

Michael was treated for smoke inhalation but mum of two Christine was pronounced dead at the hospital on Lovely Lane.

Cheshire Fire investigation officer Duncan Palin said there was no evidence to suggest that the fire had been started deliberately.

He added that it was likely that the fire had been caused by a tea light in Christine's room which had been placed near to a combustible item such as clothing, room divider or wooden material.

Michael revealed how his wife would often use tea lights at night as she would have to get up several times to take medication and found the house lights 'too intense'.

This was despite her husband's warnings that the candles were not the safest option to use at night.

During the inquest at Warrington Coroner's Court on Wednesday, assistant coroner for Cheshire Alan Moore concluded that her death had been the result of a tragic accident.

"I do not believe on the evidence that I have heard that suicide was even a probability in this case.

"If his wife had wanted to take her own life she would not have started the fire in their own home and she would not have put her husband at risk."

The medical cause of death was stated as smoke inhalation.