A HOUSE fire which claimed the life of a Cwmbran woman was started by a candle, an inquest was told.

Caroline Elizabeth Kemp, aged 34, died in July this year when fire swept through two floors of her house in Porth Mawr Road as she slept.

The inquest in Newport heard that Mrs Kemp fell asleep with two candles on a table beside her in the living room that night and a fire started.

Coroner David Bowen said she died of smoke inhalation.

Her estranged husband, Frank Kemp, said his wife, who suffered from manic depression, had "gone off the rails" the week she died.

The inquest heard Mrs Kemp was drinking heavily with two friends on July 30.

In a written statement one of those friend, Edwin Reeks, said he left the Mrs Kemp sleeping in her living room with two lighted candles on a table. At 3am on July 31 two crews were called out after neighbours reported smoke pouring from the windows.

They found Mrs Kemp lying on the floor of her living room.

Home Office pathologist Dr Deborah Cook said Mrs Kemp had a significant amount of alcohol and died of smoke and noxious gas inhalation.

Coroner David Bowen returned a verdict of accidental death, saying Mrs Kemp probably knocked the candle over in her sleep and set fire to her duvet.

He said: "If any lesson is to be learnt from this tragedy in the forthcoming festive period it is that people should be extra careful when using naked flames and candles around the house."