Shropshire Star

Full inquest opening into farm fire which claimed father and five of his children

The full inquest into the death of a father and five of his children who died in a devastating farmhouse blaze in Powys was starting today.

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David Cuthbertson

David Cuthbertson, 68, and the five children were killed when a fire ripped through their farmhouse home in Llangammarch Wells in Powys on October 30.

An inquest has already been opened and adjourned into the deaths of Mr Cuthbertson, and Gypsy Grey Raine, four, Patch Raine, six, Just Raine, 11, Reef Raine, 10, Misty Raine, nine.

The full inquest was starting at 10am in Welshpool Town Hall.

Undated Dyfed-Powys Police handout photo of police investigating the fire at Llangammarch Wells (Dyfed-Powys Police/PA)

The fire took hold at around 1am, with Mr Cuthbertson helping three of his children to safety, before going back in to safe the rest of his children.

The children raised the alarm with neighbours but by the time the fire service arrived it was too late

An investigation began, with police experts being pulled in from other areas of the country as officers went through 260 tonnes of bricks and mortar brick by brick.

Flowers left close to the scene in Llangammarch Wells, Powys (Ben Birchall/PA)

It took weeks for the bodies to be identified, and a Dyfed-Powys Police investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.

The three children who survived suffered significant trauma, and received police support following the tragedy.

Back in January, a budget report from the police force said £560,000 had already been committed to the operation and the figure was likely to rise.

A police search dogs van drives towards the scene (Ben Birchall/PA)

In Llangammarch Wells last week, a bench and arbour was dedicated to Mr Cuthbertson and his children.

At the event on October 13, more than 100 people turned our as the vicar of Erwood dedicated the bench and gave a short speech at the village's Riverside Gardens.