A CORONER has warned householders to have their fire appliances regularly checked following the death of a pensioner from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.

Widower Sydney Long was found dead in his home by police after neighbours raised the alarm when he failed to open his curtains one morning.

A post-mortem examination reveal-ed that the 73-year-old retired tiler, of Manor Walk, Stillington, Stockton, Teesside, was killed by the gas emitted from a solid fuel fire.

Health and Safety Executive inspector Anthony Mellor told an inquest yesterday that extensive tests carried out on the fire and chimney showed they had not been maintained for many months.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, deputy Teesside Coroner Gordon Hetherington said the affair should serve as a warning to people to have their fires regularly checked.

"All solid fuel or gas fires need to be properly maintained and the sad fact is that Mr Long did not maintain this fire," he said.

"I hope this inquest will at least provide a warning to others."

His comments were echoed by Cleveland Fire Brigade Divisional Officer Dave Bennett, who urged people to install a CO detector.

He said: "In this case it was the unseen killer, carbon monoxide, which is not picked up by domestic smoke alarms."

The Northern Echo launched its Silent Killer campaign two years ago to force the Government to act to reduce the number of people killed by deadly gas emissions.

Read more about the Silent Killer campaign here.