THE side effects of medication given in hospital contributed to the death of a 78-year-old Hyndburn woman.

But an inquest into the death of Florence Mary Holden heard that there was extensive natural disease which had to be combated and which would probably have killed her anyway.

Mrs Holden, of St James Close, Church, had enjoyed good health until falling and fracturing her hip while walking the family dog in June 2000. Her husband James told the inquest that the fall and subsequent operations seemed to be the start of his wife's problems.

But pathologist Dr William Lawler explained that many of the heart and kidney problems that a post-mortem examination had revealed pre-dated the fall.

Coroner Michael Singleton said he made no criticism of the hospital over the treatment.

"It was in trying to treat naturally occurring illness that a perfectly proper drug was given to which there was a reaction," said Mr Singleton. "That contributed to the cause of death but was not the sole cause. He recorded a verdict of misadventure."