A DERELICT house in Kemp-sey, near Worcester, believed to have been torched by its late owner could become the property of a charity.

In December 2005 the Worcester News revealed how the remains of Alexander Yates, aged 69, were found inside the doorway of the Hetherington Close property in Kempsey, after he repeatedly made threats to kill himself by burning down the building.

At the latest Kempsey Parish Council meeting, Malvern Hills district councillor Mike Biddle said that half of the property had been left to a charity in a will - although he did not know which one.

He said the charity was expected to buy the remaining half from the new owner, whose identity is not known.

"It will either be sold or repaired or rebuilt," he said.

Mr Biddle said that the district council had spent money securing the house and putting up protective fencing, and would be keen to trace the new owner in order to recover the cash.

At an inquest into Mr Yates' death, Worcestershire coroner Victor Round said police believed he lit the fire himself and a neighbour saw him taking petrol into the house.

However, Mr Round said that he could not be sure the retired mechanic - who was going through a divorce and was not deemed suicidal by experts - had intended to kill himself and so he recorded an open verdict.