The cause of death of a 36-year-old businessman at his home in Wiston earlier this year remains a mystery, an inquest heard on Thursday.

Father-of-three Brian Griffiths collapsed in the early hours of January 24th after a night's drinking and a row with his wife, Monica. But post-mortem and forensic tests failed to ascertain the cause of his death.

Mrs Griffiths was arrested after telling police she had pushed him during an argument. However, she told the inquest she was confused about what had happened when first questioned by police.

Mr Griffiths, who ran B&B Plant Hire, finished work at 5pm and went to the Cross Inn, Clarbeston Road, with his business partner. They were joined by Ian Cowdery, who returned to Mr Griffiths' house where they continued drinking with Mrs Griffiths.

After Mr Cowdery left, just before 2am, Mr and Mrs Griffiths argued.

Mrs Griffiths said: "Earlier in the evening, he said something not very nice and I just slapped him across the face and he pushed me on to a radiator."

Mrs Griffiths said her husband later keeled over. She thought it was because of drink and put a cushion under his head. A few minutes later however, she noticed her husband's face had turned blue.

Panicking, she tried to make her husband sick by giving him milk. She phoned 999 at 4.30am but resuscitation attempts failed and Mr Griffiths was pronounced dead.

Toxicology tests showed he had 272 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood and traces of paracetemol and a painkiller, the combination of which could have contributed to his death, however, the precise cause was unascertained.

After hearing the confused story leading up to Mr Griffiths' death, Pembrokeshire coroner Michael Howells said the only appropriate verdict was an open one.