Chris Townsend, who worked on BBC’s Casualty programme as a set designer, has killed himself in home after becoming embroiled in a bitter divorce and custody battle. His six year old son also died in the fire.

The six year old was recovered from the fire by medics, still wearing his pyjamas, but he died in hospital. Little six year old Charlie-Bob suffered severe smoke inhalation.

Chris Townsend was embroiled in a bitter divorce with his wife Paula, who also worked on Casualty as a wardrobe mistress.

Chris was in court earlier that day over custody of her older son. The hearing went badly which apparently devastated Chris.

His wife Paula said:

I was divorcing my husband. He was unhinged. Now my six-year-old boy has died and my husband has died.

I have just spent the whole day with his body.

I have given him his favourite toys, his teddy bear and the birthday present he was going to get.

Nigel Blake, landlord of the local pub ‘The Bird in Hand’ said that Chris went straight there after the court hearing.

This is what divorce can do to people. Now a father and son have died, devastating a family.

Clive Bellmore