AN elderly farmer was found dead in an armchair at his home on Wednesday night, despite his son's efforts to save him.

Eighty-year-old Wilf Dunning was found by firefighters at his North Yorkshire farm having died in a blaze that may have been caused by his cigarette.

Minutes before the crews arrived, the livestock farmer's son, John, had attempted to rescue him from the smoke-filled bungalow at Willow Farm, Wilton, near Pickering.

However, black smoke and flames had forced him back on his hands and knees. He fought his way inside through French windows and saw his father slumped in an armchair.

After the tragedy, Mr Dunning said he had spoken to his father minutes before the fire took hold and had walked over to the bungalow, which is yards from his own home, to give him his dinner.

He said he believed a cigarette may have started the fire, because his father was a heavy smoker and was not very mobile after suffering a stroke last year.

Fire and rescue crews from Pickering and Snaiton attended the scene and put out the fire within half an hour.

Spokesman Terry Glover said there was 100 per cent fire damage to the lounge.

Fire investigators and North Yorkshire Police crime scene managers visited the farm, confirming yesterday that there were no suspicious circumstances.

Charles Hill, of Thornton-le-Dale butcher GRP Hill, said: "I knew him well and attended his 80th birthday party at the end of last year.

"He was a very nice gentleman."