A VERDICT of accidental death has been recorded after a pensioner died less than three weeks after falling in her own home.

Monica Horrocks, 81, of Bowland House, Larkhill, Blackburn, suffered deep vein thrombosis after fracturing her hip when she fell in her flat on January 25.

Although initially feeling little pain, widowed Mrs Horrocks was persuaded by her son Joseph to go to Blackburn Royal Infirmary two days later, where the fracture was spotted and operated on.

Blackburn coroner Michael Singleton was told that Mrs Horrocks was then transferred to Old Gates Nursing Home, which specialises in helping older people regain mobility.

Mr Horrocks said at first his mother had seemed to be doing well, but gradually began spending more time in her room and, on some occasions, 'could not stomach her food.'

He said: "It was not like her. She had been doing so well. Before the fall, she would never spend the whole day at home. She was always going into the town centre."

A report by pathologist Richard Prescott said that the cause of death should be attributed to deep vein thrombosis, a blood clot which forms after periods of inactivity, and is known to affect elderly people after operations.

Mr Singleton said in his opinion all surgery which had taken place after the fall had 'been appropriate and correct'.