A schizophrenic died after splashing petrol inside his flat and starting a fire, an inquest heard.

Keith Fisher, 48, died after being overcome by fumes in the incident last year.

Bradford Coroner's Court was told that Mr Fisher, a former Army PT instructor, was being treated for schizophrenia.

His ex-wife, Maria, said in a statement that he developed paranoia and on one occasion lashed out at their two young children, who regarded him as a "gentle giant".

Ms Fisher, of Lidget Green, became concerned for his welfare when she was unable to get in touch with him.

She later went to his home, but could not get a reply. The police were called, but when officers broke into the flat, they found him dead. A post mortem examination showed he died from asphyxia, due to the inhalation of smoke.

Mr Fisher, of Walker Avenue, was seeing a community psychiatric nurse on a regular basis and received medication for his condition. But the inquest was told that when he stopped taking his treatment for three months, his wife began to express fears about his mental health.

Community psychiatric nurse, May Bermudez, said he had decided to resume his treatment shortly before his death.

Station officer Ian Purcell told the inquest that a liquid - probably petrol - had been splashed or sprinkled on the carpet but said he believed it possible Mr Fisher intended to start the fire and leave the property.

He said he could not rule out the fact that he decided to light a cigarette and accidentally ignited the petrol vapours, but added there was no clear evidence to suggest that Mr Fisher had poured petrol on himself.

Mr Purcell also revealed that wires to a smoke detector had been "quite deliberately cut".

Coroner, Roger Whittaker, said: "I don't believe this was a genuine accident. Equally, there is insufficient evidence here for me to say this was a clear case where Keith Fisher intended to take his own life. I don't believe he did."

He recorded an open verdict.