Rikki Paul Mitchell had left a suicide note written on a plastic carrier bag hanging from a tree outside the holiday home in Combe Haven park, Hastings coroners court heard.

In a statement read in court pathologist Mark Boxer said that around 90 per cent of 44 year-old Mr Mitchell's body was burned in the fire, and he had suffered carbon monoxide poisoning.

Toxicology reports suggested he had 227mg of alcohol in 100 ml blood when he died on August 17, 2007 - three times the drink-drive limit.

A known alcoholic, unemployed glazier Mr Mitchell spent nine months of the year in Hastings, following the breakdown of his relationship with his wife of 10 years, Karen.

Mrs Mitchell, a nurse, said: "The marriage went downhill because of his drinking. He lost his job in 2004. We'd had the caravan seven years.

"The holiday park was closed from December and reopened in March. The rest of the time he was down here in Hastings. Maybe one night a week he came back to Cambridge.

"The last time I saw him was in June."

Mrs Mitchell told the court that her husband had contacted her on August 12 to say that he had taken 130 paracetomol and drunk a litre of vodka, but had still woken up in the morning.

Friend Wayne Cox had spoken to him on the Sunday before his death and he had "seemed okay".

Mr Cox said: "On the 17th I went to several pubs in Hastings to look for him. I got to Coombe Haven about 7pm.

"I saw the plastic carrier bag next to the tree near the caravan. When I first walked up it looked like it had dirty windows. I went back to the car to get my girlfriend. When I went back the security people were there. I phoned Karen who said he was definitely in there."

Site security manager Barry Swann got a spare set of keys and let himself into the caravan where he found Mr Mitchell.

He told the court: "His body was lying on the bed covered by a burned blanket."

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service investigation officer David Yates said that the source of ignition was a lighter, and bedclothes soaked in white spirit.

Andrew Baker, also from Cambridge, was holidaying in the neighbouring caravan, had seen Mr Mitchell the previous day, but had not smelled or heard a fire overnight.

Verdict: Suicide.