Police and the Health and Safety Executive are to hold an inquest after a man was found dead and a woman unconscious in their Gravesend home last week.

Roger Finney, in his late 40s, of Watermill Way, was pronounced dead on the scene and his wife Jan, also in her 40s, was taken to a London Hospital.

Preliminary investigations indicate the couple suffered carbon monoxide poisoning.

Emergency staff were called to the house by the couples son who found them in their home just after 6pm.

Mr. Ben Finney had entered the house by the back way after he got no response trying the front door. He discovered his fathers body in the upstairs bedroom while his mother was slumped in a chair downstairs.

She had presumably gone there after feeling ill in bed. Paramedics feared for her life as she was rushed away by ambulance, but police say she has since been released from hospital.

Dartford Fire Station Commander, Nils Janson, said he believes the most likely cause of death seems to be some sort of suffocation.

He was not willing to speculate as to the source of the gas that might have caused the death. We cannot be certain of the cause of death until the coroner has released his report, but I am convinced that this could have been averted if a carbon monoxide detector had been installed.

Mr Janson urged the public to have their gas equipment checked regularly. Even though many homes have smoke detectors, it is also essential that carbon monoxide detectors be fitted and any gas appliances should be checked at least once per year.

Both smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors can be bought in most hardware stores. For further advice on protecting your home contact the Kent Fire Brigade on 01732 773 999.