A BUILDER killed himself and his lover by dousing petrol inside her home and turning the house into an inferno only weeks after their long-term relationship ended.

Billy Cummings, 38, turned up at the home of 44-year-old partner Jean Holden just after 6am on Good Friday, April 21, this year, while the two were in the middle of a trial separation, an inquest heard yesterday.

He then doused the petrol before igniting it with a lighter.

A transcript of a desperate 999 call made by factory worker Miss Holden was read out at the inquest in which she was clearly heard to say: "No, get off me, please. I love you."

Moments later there was an explosion and the windows and roof of the house in Hadleigh Court, Coxhoe Village, County Durham, were blown out.

Durham County Fire and Rescue Brigade Assistant Divisional Officer Ian Davidson told the hearing in Durham, that when he arrived at the scene it was one of "total devastation".

The heat was so intense it took fire crews more than ten minutes to force their way into the house. The two bodies recovered had to be identified by DNA profiling because of their injuries.

Both were discovered lying on the floor of the front room of the semi-detached house they had shared for two years.

Mr Cummings had recently moved to nearby Cassop, but shortly before the blaze, he let himself into the Hadleigh Court home, where Miss Holden still lived.

Detective Superintendent Ian Scott said there was no evidence of violence in their relationship, but "there is a suggestion that William may have been jealous that Jean struck up a relationship with someone else".

Donna Wilkinson, of Quarrington Hill, Mr Cummings' former wife and mother of his two children, described him as "the nicest person you could wish to meet".

Deputy North Durham Coroner Brenda Davidson, who recorded a verdict of unlawful killing on Miss Holden, said she believed the 44-year-old had been prevented from escaping.

Mr Cummings started the fire intending to kill himself, she added. Verdict: suicide