A FIRE that killed a father-of-two on his narrowboat was started accidentally, an inquest has heard.

Kevin Pryor’s remains were found on burnt-out Oxford canal boat the Lady of the Lake, on the Oxford Canal close to the Pear Tree roundabout, following a blaze on Friday, November 16 at about 11pm.

The inquest last Thursday at Oxford Coroner’s Court heard it was likely the fire had been caused by candles or fuel from a log burning stove.

Mr Pryor had moved from Barnstaple in Devon five years ago to live on Oxford’s canals.

The 49-year-old, who had two sons aged 18 and 22, had worked as a civil engineer and been a member of the Territorial Army and the Royal Air Force Reserve.

Oxfordshire coroner Darren Salter recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Following the blaze, Thames Valley Police said they believed Mr Pryor had been killed in the fire as he had not been seen since it happened.

A post-mortem examination failed to formally identify his remains but police said he had been positively identified after “further enquiries”.

Det Insp Mike Lynch, who was investigating the incident, said at the time that Mr Pryor’s death was not suspicious.

His mother Christine Pryor, 69, from Guildford, Surrey, told of how he used to call her every day.