Man killed by rubbish was bin man

John Jones, 62, from Aberystwyth, amassed tonnes of items which he stored at his house and in rented garages.

Gwyn Jones, who knew Mr Jones for over 50 years, said his friend had worked as a bin man, and added that hoarding was like a "hobby" to him.

A coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death at an inquest.

A police officer told the inquest in Aberystwyth on Wednesday that Mr Jones' house was so full he built a network of tunnels so he could move around in it.

He worked for the old Cardiganshire District Council and then Ceredigion Council for 32 years before retiring in 1997.

"Hoarding was like a hobby to him, but it was beyond in the end"
Gwyn Jones

His friend Gwyn Jones, also from Aberystwyth, worked with him at the council, but they had been friends since childhood.

Gwyn Jones said his friend had hoarded items for years, but it seemed to worsen after his wife, Jean, died in 2005.

"After Jean died it was like John was a broken man," said Gwyn Jones, who himself worked as a refuse collector for 26 years.

"He didn't live at his house for three months after her death because I think it was too painful for him.

"He was affectionately known as John Tarw (John the Bull) because of his size, and he had a heart of gold and would do anyone a favour," said Mr Jones.

"I used to drop off a Christmas card, but I haven't bothered over the last three years because I couldn't get anywhere near John's front door.

"His hoarding definitely got worse after his wife died. Hoarding was like a hobby to him, but it was beyond in the end."

Ceredigion coroner Peter Brunton had said it was likely some of Mr Jones' rubbish had fallen on him and he had probably died from asphyxiation.