Son continued to care for and feed his parents after they had died

John Dumsday, 85, was badly decomposed and infested with maggots when he was found dead in his chair at the family home in Southbourne, Dorset.

The pensioner, who played football for Queens Park Rangers in his youth, had napkins where his son, Paul, had been continuing to feed him.

An inquest in Bournemouth, Dorset, heard that their son Paul suffered from mental health issues and had apparently thought his parents were still alive.

His 83-year-old wife Christine, was found wearing a personal stereo playing music, when their bodies were found on August 25 last year.

Tests were unable to establish when Mr Dumsday had died but he was last seen alive in the spring of 2007 - six months before his body was found.

The inquest heard Mr Dumsday was a sportsman before and during the war. He played cricket for the London XI team and football for Queens Park Rangers before he joined the Royal Air Force.

Coroner's officer Michael Humphries said the couple were found after social services visited their flat in Southbourne, Bournemouth, on August 25 last year.

Bottles of smelling salts were found placed under the noses of the dead couple in a bid to revive them.

Mr Humphries, who attended the scene, said: "The flat was in a dishevelled state.

"In an armchair in the far left of the room was the decomposed body of a male wearing large dark glasses and large heavy bandages on his lower legs.

"He had two smelling bottles under his nose.

"In an opposite armchair was the body of his wife. I believe she had died in the last few days and she was wearing a walkman with music still playing.

"She was fully clothed and also had two smelling bottles under her nose.

"It would appear the son had mental health problems and thought his parents were still alive."

After the discovery Paul Dumsday was admitted to St Anns psychiatric hospital in Poole.

Mr Sheriff Payne, the coroner for Bournemouth, recorded an open verdict in the case of Mr Dumsday and death due natural causes for Mrs Dumsday.

He said: "It would appear the son, who had mental health problems, had attempted to continue provide care following his father's death."