Family and friends of an elderly man and woman tragically found dead in their home near York today paid tribute to a "wonderful and caring couple".

Carol Tulloch, of York Coroner's office, leaves the courtyard of the house - scene of the double death riddle Picture: Nigel Holland

"Their deaths were a hell of a shock, and they will be sorely missed," said Bryan King, cousin of Bob Fletcher.

The bodies of Bob, 75, and his wife, Joan, 76, were discovered yesterday by police at their home in The Village, Wigginton after Bob's sister, Jennifer Fletcher, raised the alarm.

She had noticed that the milk on their doorstep had not been taken in and became increasingly concerned.

The family were today coming to terms with the sudden deaths, which have shocked the village.

Mr King said: "Most people in the village knew them, and if they didn't they certainly knew the garden.

"They both had a tremendous sense of humour, and Joan was a superb artist."

The Fletchers' home was a well-known landmark in the village and aroused curiosity from passers-by.

Mr Fletcher, a self-confessed eccentric, designed the one-and-a-half acre exotic gardens in the 1950s.

With its grotto, tower, statues and small lakes, the creation had the feel of a Victorian folly and was sometimes opened to the public to raise money for the church.

Joan was head of the art department at Joseph Rowntree School during the 1980s when she was known as Joan Reavill.

She used to paint pictures of people's pets and sell them to raise money for Wigginton Parish Church, where they both worshipped every Sunday.

Maggie Wright, deputy head teacher at Joseph Rowntree School, said: "She will be fondly remembered by all the students who were taught by her and her former colleagues.

"She was a caring and gentle person - just a really nice, gentle character."

Bob farmed the land where the couple's home now stands. He had lived in the village all his life and married Joan in 1989 after the death of his first wife, Edna.

Her son, John Reavill, also lives in the village.

Bob, whose father was a butcher in the village, took early retirement from his job as greenkeeper at Nestle Rowntree and devoted his time to the garden.

His family said he had grown increasingly reclusive in the last few years.

"He was a brilliant gardener and really enjoyed showing it off to other people," said Mr King.

Mr King said the family was now "playing a waiting game" while they waited for the results of the police investigation into how they died.

Police today continued to probe the deaths and revealed that one line of inquiry being pursued by detectives is that the couple were overcome by carbon monoxide fumes.

Detective Sergeant John Roberts, who is leading the investigation, said there were no suspicious circumstances.

The Rev Philip Cunningham said: "They were good people, good Christian souls."

Investigators from the Health and Safety Executive were today visiting the house with police officers.

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