Jackdaw nest kills widow

Mavril Jones had her chimney swept regularly

A grandmother died after a jackdaw nested in the chimney of her home, blocking the escape of poisonous carbon monoxide fumes from her fire, an inquest has heard.

Mavril Jones, 85, from Pontlliw in Swansea, was found slumped in her front room earlier this year- her devoted Jack Russell pet dog lay dead alongside her.

The court heard that Mrs Jones - a widow for the past 10 years - regularly had her chimney swept but that jackdaws were capable of building a thick nest of twigs, wood and grass over a period of a week.

The pensioner had even employed someone to put a wire mesh over the top of the chimney but this had either blown away or been removed by the birds who constructed a 3ft-deep nest in her chimney.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Coroner Phillip Rogers said: "People who have elderly relatives should consider having a carbon monoxide warning device fitted to their homes."

People who have elderly relatives should consider having a carbon monoxide warning device fitted to their homes Coroner Phillip Rogers

He added: "The refuse in the chimney had been built up very rapidly as the birds added to their nest.

"She had employed somebody to put wire over the chimney put it had either blown away or been removed by the birds."

Mrs Jones' sister, Elaine, had earlier told the hearing how the widow had loved having a big "cosy" coal fire.

"It was such a big fire at her home. I begged her to have electricity but she was stubborn about it," she said.

A spokesman for British Gas said: "Sadly carbon monoxide cases do happen and they are avoidable deaths."