A MAN who had smoked 50g of tobacco a week for 40 years died after developing severe problems with his veins.

An inquest heard that lorry driver Steve Greenwood had beaten leukaemia as a teenager but failed to recover from surgery on his vascular problems.

Mr Greenwood, of Heaton Street, Blackburn, developed an infection after a first graft and a second operation was carried out. It was successful but Mr Greenwood developed bronchopneumonia which led to septicaemia and multi-organ failure.

"The severe vascular disease left surgeons desperately trying to catch up and eventually became overwhelming," said Mr Singleton.

He recorded a verdict of death as a result of a recognised complication of essential surgery.