Charlie-Bob Townsend, who was found in a burned-out house in Long Ashton, was most probably smothered before the blaze took hold, an inquest yesterday.

The six-year-old was found in his smoke-filled bedroom at his home near Bristol, while his father Christopher Townsend, 51, was found hanged in the garage.

Consultant pathologist Dr Hugh White told the inquest into their deaths that while there was no definitive evidence, the most probable cause of Charlie-Bob's death was "smothering by a pillow".

Dr White said there was evidence Charlie-Bob was exposed to heat during the fire at the semi-detached home on April 24 last year.

But he said there was evidence carbon monoxide, present in smoke, had entered his airways – an indication he died before the fire started.

He said: "There was no soot stain on his tongue, inside of his mouth or his airways. The carbon monoxide level was normal."

He went on: "If you don't find carbon monoxide raised and don't find soot in the airways that doesn't definitely mean that the person was not alive.

"But here we have a six-year-old boy who I will assume was healthy. It's therefore my opinion that this child was dead before the fire was started."

In his conclusion, Dr White said: "There was no pathological evidence to confirm asphyxiation, but the most probable cause of death was smothering with a pillow."

Dr White told the inquest at Avon Coroner's court it was not possible to conclude who died first – Charlie-Bob or his father Christopher. The pathologist concluded Mr Townsend's cause of death was hanging – and he had not been exposed to the fire.

The inquest heard that Mr Townsend, a production set designer who had worked on Bristol-based BBC drama Casualty, was involved in an acrimonious custody battle with his wife of eight years, Paula.

Statements from Mr Townsend's friends revealed he was "devastated" by the possibility of decreased access to Charlie-Bob and his stepson, Lewis.

Elizabeth Ashmead, who met Mr Townsend when they were students at art school in London, said he called her in tears after a court hearing.

"He told me he had just left court. He had to pay Paula £17,000 and could not have Charlie-Bob on Wednesdays any more," her statement said.

"He said he had done nothing wrong. He said he had presented all the documentary evidence to the judge."

She went on: "He told me it was time to sling the noose. I told him absolutely not."

A statement from Sophie Becher, Mr Townsend's friend and fellow production designer, said when her friend met Paula he was ``fantastically happy''.

She said the couple had a "whirlwind romance" before marrying in 2000.

Ms Becher said they "seemed happy" but this changed in 2005.

"He confided in me that he believed Paula was having an affair and was concerned about the amount of alcohol she was consuming," her statement said.

Ms Becher said Mr Townsend had stopped his wife driving with the children in the car, as he believed she was over the limit.

She went on: "It's safe to say the relationship was starting to flounder. She moved out, taking the two boys with her."

She added: "He felt Paula was being unreasonable and keeping the children from him."

Ms Becher said Mr Townsend gave up his job at BBC Casualty to dedicate his time to the court proceedings and custody battle.

"He was desperately unhappy," she said.

Social worker Geraldine Thomas told the inquest she started working with the family a year before the tragedy, when Mr Townsend reported his wife for drinking and driving with children in the car.

She attended numerous court hearings with them, including the hearing on April 23, the day before the deaths.

She told the inquest this was "by no means" the final hearing, and she had arranged to meet Mr Townsend on May 1.

"He was a frustrated man, I think he felt he was not being listened to," she said.

But Ms Thomas added that she never felt Mr Townsend was the type of person who would hurt either of the children.

The inquest heard Avon Fire and Rescue Service was called at 5.50am on April 24 to reports of a fire in Long Ashton Road, Long Ashton.

Firefighter Mark Fox told the inquest he discovered Charlie-Bob's body in a bed, under the duvet.

He said: "We passed into the bedroom. I reached down, put my hand on to the bed and felt an object of some sort. I was not sure at that moment what it was.

"As I bent down to actually see, as I pulled back the duvet, I saw an object which I now know to be Charlie-Bob.

"I was expecting an adult. When I picked him up, he was light and I could lift him on my own."

Mr Fox passed the body to a firefighter at the window, who carried it to paramedics waiting below. Charlie-Bob was pronounced dead shortly after.

Mr Fox said when he first entered the property he noted that the bay windows to the rear were open.

Firefighter Steve Quinton discovered Mr Townsend.

He said he found a door to the rear of the garage smashed off its hinges.

He said: "I placed my hand on to the right side of the door and looked into the garage.

"The garage was in darkness but there was some natural light. I looked in and did a double take as I saw a male hanging from the rafters."

With the assistance of a colleague, Mr Quinton lowered the body down and carried it outside the garage, placing it on the ground, before a paramedic pronounced him dead.

Forensic scientist David Scaysbrook concluded the fire was started by a naked flame in the cupboard beneath the stairs.

The hearing continues.