Police have confirmed that an elderly York couple found dead in their own home were poisoned by carbon monoxide fumes.

Family and friends of Bob and Joan Fletcher were in mourning after police discovered their bodies at their house in The Village, Wigginton. Bob's sister raised the alarm.

A post-mortem has revealed the cause of death and now police are working with health and safety specialists to determine how the tragedy happened.

Superintendent John Lacy said: "The cause of death has been attributed to carbon monoxide poisoning.

"A thorough investigation of the scene by health and safety experts has been, and continues to be, carried out to establish where the build-up of those fumes accumulated, and what was the major cause of them."

An inquest in the deaths of Mr and Mrs Fletcher was due to be opened and adjourned later today.

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