A STAR of a cult 1990s TV series died after a carelessly discarded cigarette set his Wareham flat ablaze.

Mike Furnell, 61, appeared in the late-night ITV series Pleasure Island, based around the notorious adults-only Hedonism II resort in the Caribbean.

A colourful character around Wareham, Mike had also served as a Purbeck councillor back in the 1970s before he was voted off the council for lack of attendance.

He had been drinking in his favourite bar, Anglebury, before heading back to his flat in Robert Christmas House, Christmas Close, on Tuesday.

Fire and rescue crews were called to the premises, adjacent to Wareham Hospital, just after 9.30pm and found heavy smoke billowing from the second-floor flat.

Fire investigators said an ashtray containing a partially-lit cigarette had slipped on to a chair and set it alight.

Near-neighbour Wendy Jones, 48, described Mike as "a nice fella".

"He kept himself to himself most of the time," she said.

Matthew Cull, 48, a resident of Mike had lived at the flat for "a couple of years" and was "well-known around town". Other Wareham locals described the ex-truck driver as "a friendly guy you could chat with".

Lester Rogers, a former acquaintance, said he had come into money through his dad's successful haulage firm. Mike became a partner of his dad, Phillip, in the family business, based on Sandy Lane, Upton, in the 1970s.

Mike had previously served on Purbeck council as an independent but was voted off for non-attendance, a fact he attributed to "business activities on the Continent".

It is understood Mike lived in Europe after Pleasure Island before returning to Dorset.

Steve Mant of Dorset Fire and Rescue, said the flammable old-style furniture in the Wareham flat would have ignited quickly. He said: "There are no fire-retardant covers on the furniture and it gave off thick, acrid smoke.

"The most likely cause of the fire was the careless disposal of smoking materials."

Fire crews pulled Mike from the blaze and attempts were made to resuscitate him, but he was pronounced dead at Poole Hospital shortly before 11.30pm on Tuesday.