John Segadelli: Saw smoke

Their 97-year-old neighbour was led to safety by a friend.

The fire broke out in an upstairs bedroom of the large semi-detached house the couple had lived in all their married life.

The flames ripped through the roof and spread to next door's attic.

The alarm was raised by neighbour John Segadelli, but by then the fire was out of control.

"What caught my attention was the glass exploding," said Mr Segadelli.

"I went around the corner and I could see smoke."

Eleanor Llewellyn: Lost everything

Eleanor Llewellyn was sleeping downstairs when she was awoken by his frantic knocking at her window.

She escaped with her life but little else.

"It's a terrific shock. I've lost everything. I only had my night clothes on," she said.

Forensic experts and detectives have launched their own investigations as firefighters worked throughout the day to make the building safe.

Crynant is a close community and the deaths of Mr and Mrs Owen - who were well known - has shocked and saddened the village.

Police are treating the fire as a tragic accident.