AN inquest into the death of a 73-year-old Rossendale woman who died in hospital was opened and adjourned for further inquiries.

Roseanne Naylor, of Heightside House Nursing Home, Newchurch, died on June 24 in Burnley General Hospital.

She was admitted to hospital on June 2 because she had been been vomiting.

She had learning difficulties and was in full time care and she had previously suffered a stroke which left her weak down one side of her body and slightly confused.

Acting East Lancashire coroner Richard Taylor heard how she had a benign oesophagal stricture which she refused treatment for and the hospital was trying to manage the situation but on June 18 she had fallen on the ward.

She was then found to have a large bruise to the left side of her head and face and became more confused than normal.

This led to a CT scan being carried out which revealed a tumour and her condition quickly deteriorated.

A post mortem examination was carried out by Home Office pathologist Dr John Rutherford who gave the cause of death as a head injury.