SOLDIERS called to a pensioner's smoke-logged house during a firefighters' strike did not have the equipment to smash the front door in, an inquest heard.

A police officer assigned to escort army and navy teams to the home of grandfather Alan Smith, 81, said they did not have door ramming devices.

DC Neil Swindells went on: "They just handed me an axe."

Mr Smith, of Sutcliffe Street, Harle Syke, was found on his stairs struggling to breathe. He died of heart disease and inhaling carbon monoxide.

The hearing, at Burnley magistrates' court, was told how Mr Smith, who probably left his chip pan on, would have panicked when he found the blaze and the anxiety and fumes would have brought on the heart problem.

Mr Smith, described as a "man of habit," probably started cooking at about six o'clock but the alarm was not raised for more than four hours when his terrace home was still full of smoke.

A Green Goddess crew was at the scene within minutes of the call, which was made within hours of the start of the first firefighters' pay strike on November 13.

Police and the Army fire tender attended at his house at 10.25pm and the pensioner was found semi conscious.

He was certified dead on arrival at Burnley General Hospital.

Forensic scientist Andrew Wade told the hearing the fire probably only lasted five to 10 minutes.

DC Swindells said he had been part of Operation Fresco, which escorted the army, who did not have local knowledge, to fires during the firefighters' strike.

He told the hearing they arrived at Sutcliffe Street within five minutes of receiving the 999 call.

A number of people were outside and said they could smell smoke.

Mr Smith's house was all in darkness so he lifted the letterbox and could smell smoke inside.

He went on:" When we got there, we presumed they would have equipment to get into the house, but they did not have the correct equipment.

"They just handed me an axe. Door ramming devices would have got us in much quicker."

DC Swindells told the inquest there were no signs of flames in the house, just smoke.

Mr Smith was struggling to breathe. An ambulance arrived a short time later and took him to hospital.

Pathologist Dr Abdul Al-Dawoud told the hearing Mr Smith died from heart disease caused by narrowing of the arteries.

Inhalation of carbon monoxide had contributed.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, acting East Lancs coroner Richard Taylor said it was likely Mr Smith started cooking around 6pm.

He may not have taken the chip pan off and tragically fell outside his normal routine.