THE inquest into the death of a Blackwood women found in a burning car has been opened.

Coroner David Bowen opened the inquest at Newport Coroner’s office yesterday.

On August 22, Police and the fire service were called at 1.36pm to a burning car at the Old Hafodrynys Colliery Washery site, on the Old Hafodrynys Road, on A472 between Hafodrynys and Pontypool.

On Arrival the car was found to be well alight, but after the fire had been extinguished a woman’s body was found badly burnt inside the vehicle.

Using dental records, the woman has been identified as Joan Bale, 56, from Blackwood.

A post mortem examination was carried out by the University Hospital of Wales Cardiff pathologist, Dr Richard Jones, who concluded that the provisional cause of death was exposure to fire and fire effluent.

Mr Bowen said that he was satisfied with the identity of the women and that the inquest would be adjourned for two months until the completion of police inquiries.

A Gwent Police spokeswomen said: “Specialist officers are supporting her family at this time.

“Her death is not being treated as suspicious.”