A CHIP fat fire killed a former factory labourer days before Christmas, an inquest heard yesterday.

Brian Quinn, 27, was found dead from smoke inhalation in the soot-covered lounge of his first floor flat at The Oval, West Cornforth, County Durham, on December 22 last year.

A plastic kitchen clock had stopped at 11.20 the night before and the remains of a burnt out pan were still on the electric cooker.

Division officer Stuart Guthrie, from County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue service told the Bishop Auckland inquest: "Mr Quinn may have been disoriented and gone into the living room instead of down the stairs."

Mr Quinn had been out drinking before the fire. His blood alcohol level was almost three times the legal driving limit.

Darlington and South Durham coroner Colin Penna recorded a verdict of accidental death.