A FISH and chip shop owner died in a Southampton hospital after falling from scaffolding he made himself.

Mark Pritchard, 53, was working on self-assembled scaffolding at the Chips Ahoy on Victoria Road, Cowes, on January 2 when he fell and hit his head on the pavement.

He was transferred to Southampton General where he died of head injuries on January 22.

An inquest was opened into his death at the Isle of Wight Coroner's Court and adjourned to May 22.