FIRE chiefs say the blaze which claimed the life of Northwich pensioner Malcolm Cawthra was the first fire-related death in the county for nine months.

A spokesman for Northwich Fire Brigade, which tackled the blaze at Weavervale Park in Bartington, said: 'We received a call shortly after

10.30pm to attend a residential fire. The fire brigade was met with a severe fire in a mobile home. There were problems with the mains electricity and liquid petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders and unfortunately a man lost his life.

'The fire service and police forensics are working together to determine the cause of the blaze and the full investigation was resumed on Monday.

'The fire itself would have been very hazardous because of the LPG. You have got to fight the fire while at the same time you cannot allow the flame on the cylinders to extinguish.

'We heard it was the first fire-related death in the county for nine months, so when something like this happens it really strikes home.'

Anne Park, who lives opposite Mr Cawthra's home, said the victim was a cultured man who was fond of antiques and collected pottery.

She told the Chronicle: 'He liked art and did a lot of oil and watercolour paintings - I believe his wife used to run a painting class in Cuddington.

'He was a member of Vale Royal Probus, a society for professional, retired business people.'

Her husband, Alan, added: 'I saw him the day before the fire. I knew him through Probus and we used to play in the Probus bowls team together. He was a member for about eight or 10 years.

'Before he was an architect, he was in the navy. He had served on the same ship as the Duke of Edinburgh and in the Mediterranean and the Far East.'

Vale Royal Probus member and friend Tony Chaplin, of Hartford, had known his mate 'Mack' for 30 years.

Mr Chaplin said: 'Mack was a true friend - a charming, cultured man with a great sense of humour.

'The love of his life was his wife, Miriam. They were married for about 50 years and he was distraught when she died of cancer four years ago.'

Mr Cawthra leaves son Simon, who is married to Christine and has two children.

'He had such flair,' said Mr Chaplin. 'He would turn up for meetings in a velvet bow tie. The world will be a less colourful place without him.'