NUISANCE children who were 'hell bent' on causing trouble helped bring about the death of a Nelson pensioner who collapsed following a burglary at her home, a coroner has revealed.

An inquest was told that Sheila Bridge, 62, died in Lansbury Place on June 27 last year, shortly after she had contacted the police about a group of children causing a nuisance outside her house.

She contacted the police at 11.38pm and ten minutes later her husband telephoned 999 to say she had collapsed. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Manslaughter charges were brought against six youngsters, between the ages of ten and 15, which were later dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service.

But home office pathologist Dr William Lawler said the event involving the children had been a significant precipitating factor in the death of the 62-year-old grandmother.

He told Acting East Lancashire Coroner Richard Taylor that she died from severe pre-existing heart disease.

Mr Lawler said: "Given the sequence of events as told to me by the police I have no doubt that this woman died from inadequate blood supply to her heart.

"Many people who die of the consequences of severe pre-existing natural heart disease have something that precipitates the fatal irregularity of heart beat. There's no doubt that in some cases that factor is a psychological one in people who are stressed or upset. I think that this event has been a significant precipating factor."

Detective Inspector Tony Bolton, of Nelson CID, said Mrs Bridge had gone to bed at 11.15pm when she and her husband were disturbed by someone outside the bedroom window.

Mrs Bridge got out of bed, approached the window and banged on it and the children ran away. It was then discovered that a vase of flowers had been taken from the windowsill inside the house.

After hearing all the evidence Mr Taylor returned an open verdict.

He said: "I am aware that the police spent an awful lot of time in bringing this case to court. It's through no fault of theirs that the matter was not pursued in court. It is simply a legal matter. The senior counsel was asked for advice and as a direct result of that the Crown Prosecution Service felt obliged to stop the case.

"Because the case was discontinued I now have to finalise the inquest into Mrs Bridge's death.

"On the face of it how Mrs Bridge came by her death is very simple. She died from natural causes. She had a heart attack. She was a lady who wasn't enjoying good health and had a heart attack recently and we heard from Dr Lawler that she could have died at any time.

"I have a little doubt that we have children here who are hell bent on creating a nuisance. I have little doubt due to their age and mentality they give little thought to what they are doing or any potential consequences but due to the way the law is I can fully understand why the CPS had no alternative and could not pursue the matter through the courts.

"Having heard the evidence and considering the law I am obliged in this case to in Burnley yesterday.

Two of the six youngsters originally charged with manslaughter walked free from court last August after related charges of threatening behaviour, conspiracy to commit burglary and criminal damage were also dismissed by the youth court.

A 12-year-old boy was given a 12-month supervision order after admitting committing the burglary at Mrs Bridge's house.

A 10-year-old boy accused of the burglary of an 85-year-old woman's house in Netherfield Road on June 24 was given a six-month supervision order.