Judge fire blaze cause 'unknown'

The inquest should end on Friday

The cause of the blaze which took the life of a county court judge cannot be determined, an inquest has heard.

Andrew Chubb, 58, died in an explosion in his garden shed near Chard, Somerset, in 2001.

A second inquest into his death is being held after his mistress, Kerry Sparrow, said she had new evidence.

Station officer Andy Quinlan, who discovered the body, said the fire did raise suspicions, but inspections showed no "obvious" signs of foul play.

The fire may have been triggered by petrol vapours coming into contact with the mower's ignition, he said.

Mrs Chubb and Ms Sparrow

Mr Quinlan said: "The body was examined for foul play. Upon first examination, nothing untoward was found.

"Mr Chubb may also have struck a match, but no cause of fire at this point can be proven.

"When the body was bagged, I examined the scene but no accelerants were found."

Mr Quinlan also said he believed the shed door was slightly ajar during the blaze.

He later said loud bangs heard by neighbours may have been asbestos in the shed's roof catching fire.

Ms Sparrow, a 38-year-old legal executive, last year successfully challenged an inquest held in December 2001 which ruled the death was accidental.

The inquest, at Glastonbury Town Hall, continues.