By JEZ HEMMING
Daily Post Reporter, published on http://www.dailypost.co.uk/
AN elderly couple died in a house fire yesterday morning.
Business owners Ted and Lucy Hocknell were pronounced dead at the scene of the blaze on the Gannock Park West estate in Deganwy.
Emergency services were called to the blaze shortly before 7.45am, and another woman, believed to be Mrs Hocknell's sister Yrene Collings, was treated for smoke inhalation but did not need hospital treatment.
The road was closed as a joint investigation was conducted by North Wales Fire and Rescue Service and police, with the cause thought to be electrical.
The fire service said later: "The fire caused severe damage to the room of origin and significant smoke damage to the reminder of the first floor with water damage on the ground floor."
Stuart Millington, senior fire safety manager, said: "Sadly, the occupants of this property did not have smoke alarms fitted - they could have saved their lives."
North Wales Ambulance Service said two ambulances and one rapid response vehicle attended, and police confirmed the couple's next of kin had been informed.
Former radio DJ and local entertainer Ian Turner paid a touching tribute to Mr Hocknell, 93, who owned Bryant and Hocknell furniture shop on Gloddaeth Street, Llandudno. They had been friends for 50 years, "It's just so tragic that he and Lucy went in such a way," he told the Daily Post.
"He was a good pal. We used to have coffee most days of the week and he was first to work to open the mail. He worked up until about 18 months ago.
"There was a group of us who used to meet and we called ourselves 'the Caffia'."
A former neighbour said: "They were the nicest couple imaginable. Ted and Lucy adored each other - they were an inseparable couple and always held hands. Lucy was always smartly dressed, and Ted worshipped her."
Aberconwy AM Janet Finch-Saunders said: "It's just a tragic set of circumstances. They were a much respected and well-known couple. My thoughts and prayers go out to their family and friends."
Local county councillor Julie Fallon interrupted her family holiday to pay her respects to the couple. She said: "It's such incredibly sad news and my thoughts go out to the family."
As well as Mrs Hocknell's sister Yrene, the couple are survived by two sons, Philip 64, and Brian, 62.