THE Egyptian authorities have blamed the E. Coli bacteria for the deaths of an East Lancashire couple at a Red Sea resort last month.

John and Susan Cooper, from Burnley, died while on a Thomas Cook holiday in the resort of Hurghada.

A statement from Egyptian general prosecutor Nabil Sadek said yesterday that post-mortem examinations showed E. coli bacteria was the cause of the death.

The couple, who lived in Deerpark Road, were taken ill at the luxury Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel and died within four hours of each other on August 21.

Mr Cooper, a 69-year-old builder, and his wife, aged 64, booked the holiday through Thomas Cook for whom she worked at its Burnley town centre branch in Curzon Street.

Mr Sadek said post-mortem examinations showed E. coli was the cause of the death and confirmed that hygiene tests at the hotel found high levels of the deadly stomach bacteria.

Mr Sadek said forensic tests showed Mr Cooper suffered acute intestinal dysentery caused by e.coli, and Mrs Cooper suffered Hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS), which was likely because of e.coli.

He said the couple's bodies showed "no criminal violence" and other tests on air and water at the hotel found nothing unusual.

The couple's daughter, Kelly Ormerod dismissed the claims of E. coli as 'absolute rubbish' and said she did not believe the symptoms her parents showed were consistent with the infection.

A spokesman for the travel company said: “Thomas Cook notes the announcement today by the Egyptian prosecutor on the results of the autopsies of John and Susan Cooper.

"We have not yet seen the full report and we will need time for our own experts to review it."

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic deaths of John and Susan Cooper. We will continue to offer every support to their daughter Kelly and the rest of their family.”

The couple's bodies were released by the Egyptian authorities on Friday for return to the UK.