AN ELDERLY couple have died of suspected carbon monoxide poisoning the day after returning home from their Christmas holiday.

Betty and Alf Key, both in their 70s, were found by her sister Iris on Friday morning.

They were sat in the living room of their home at Newtown Avenue, Cudworth, with the television on, as they had been left by their family the previous day.

The Chronicle understands carbon monoxide poisoning is the most likely cause of death but tests are still being carried out.

Son-in-law, Barrie Logan, had built up the solid fuel fire and lit it on Thursday morning ready for their return from a turkey and tinsel holiday in Blackpool.

He and his wife, Christine, visited later that afternoon.

Barrie said: “We went up Cudworth and called at about 2.45pm and had a cup of tea with them. They were complaining the fire wasn’t drawing.

“I stoked it up, got it going and we left them then. That is all we knew until Iris came round the next morning. She said we had better get round. There was a funny smell and there was something wrong with Alf and Bet.

“I saw the bathroom light on and when I got there they were sat down. It just looked like they were watching television but they were both dead.

“It just smelled of sulphur but we don’t know the cause, they are still doing tests.

“You just don’t expect it with solid fuel fires. We had been saying since March to swap it but they didn’t want to change. They didn’t want the mess and were set in their ways.”