A GARAGE owner who developed a sore throat while on holiday was diagnosed with throat cancer and died just weeks later, an inquest heard.

The hearing in Blackburn heard that Douglas Smith, 55, suffered from an "extremely aggressive" form of cancer.

Surgery could only reduce the tumour and as he was recovering from the operation Mr Smith suffered a massive haemorrhage and died.

The night before he had told his wife, Eileen, to take their daughters Deborah and Clare out for a meal to give them a night off.

Early the following morning, December 1, she received a call to go to the hospital but Mr Smith was dead when she arrived.

Mrs Smith, of Park Road, Cliviger, told the inquest that her husband, who owned a small car repair garage and MOT centre in Burnley, had suffered from diabetes for ten years but other than that had been a healthy man.

He had complained of a sore throat while they were away on holiday in October and after their return began to have problems swallowing.

Mr Smith went to see his GP and was immediately sent to Blackburn Royal Infirmary where a camera was put down his throat.

He was eventually put under the care of specialist surgeon Steven Langton.

Mr Langton said he had hoped to remove the tumour in its entirety and the initial prognosis had been optimistic.

However, during surgery it became apparent the tumour had spread and it was going to be impossible to completely remove it.

"I removed as much as I could and then the intention was to treat Mr Smith with radiotherapy to buy as much time as possible," said Mr Langton.

He said post-operative recovery had been good until the massive haemorrhage on December 1 which happened rapidly.

"I have never had a haemorrhage of this scale at this stage," said Mr Langton.

He said he believed the cancer must have eroded a major blood vessel near the operation site, a view supported by pathologist Dr Helen Stringfellow. She said Mr Smith's diabetes would have been a contributing factor.

Deputy coroner Carolyn Singleton recorded a verdict of death by natural causes.