Bishop's Stortford deaths: Ronald Pearmain was ex-firefighter

A man whose body was found with that of his stabbed wife at their home in Hertfordshire was a "kind and caring" former London firefighter, his family has said.

The bodies of Christine and Ronald Pearmain, both in their 60s, were found in Bishop's Stortford on Friday.

Mrs Pearmain died as a result of a stab wound to the chest. The cause of Mr Pearmain's death is not yet known.

Police are not looking for third party involvement in the case.

In a statement issued by police, the family said 66-year-old Mr Pearmain was a triplet and had previously lived in north London.

He worked for the London Fire Brigade for more than 25 years and was on active duty during the fire at King's Cross, which killed 31 people in 1987.

He gave up his most recent job as a chauffeur for a home building company in April 2011 due to illness.

The statement said the couple had been married for 37 years, had no children and had moved to Bishop's Stortford about four years ago.

His sister-in-law Val Pearmain said he was a kind and caring man with a quiet nature and a dry sense of humour.

A family statement about Mrs Pearmain, 64, has not been issued.