AN 81-year-old man died after embers from his pipe sparked a fire inside his car, an inquest was told.

Joseph Heaton, of St James' Road, Blackburn, had been reading a newspaper in the car park at Marles Wood, Dinckley, near Ribchester, on September 25.

He was taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary then transferred to the burns unit at the Royal Preston Hospital where he died on October 11. Acting coroner Michael Singleton adjourned the inquest to a hearing at Blackburn Magistrates' Court on December 14.

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