A Coroner has concluded that a pensioner from Co Mayo, who died after being found in flames on a London street, accidentally ignited his clothing while lighting a cigarette.

70-year old John Nolan's death near his flat in Tottenham, north London, was the subject of a police appeal for witnesses, as they were unable to explain the incident.

However coroner Andrew Walker concluded that the retired construction worker originally from Swinford died as a result of "accidental ignition of clothing".

He told the North London Coroner’s Court yesterday that it’s likely Mr Nolan accidentally set his clothes on fire whilst lighting a cigarette.

Mr Nolan, who was found with a pack of cigarettes and two lighters, suffered "severe" burns on 65% of his body after being alight for around six minutes.

The coroner agreed with the police's conclusion that Mr Nolan did not ignite himself deliberately, and there was no-one else involved.

He said it was a tragic accident, aided by Mr Nolan’s lack of mobility.

Mr Nolan, who emigrated to London in the 1960s, went for a walk alone on 17 September last year, having been with his carer brother Jimmy. They planned to watch the  All-Ireland Football final that afternoon, but at around 1pm, the Metropolitan Police were called to reports of a fire near Williams House in Orchard Place.

Passers-by tried to extinguish the flames and Mr Nolan was airlifted to Broomfield Hospital, in Chelmsford, Essex, where he died the following day.