AN inquiry was under way last night after a widow claimed that her 81-year-old dying husband was denied privacy so other patients could watch the World Cup.

Jill Calvert lodged a formal complaint against the Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, alleging the family was even told a curtain could not be draw around her husband Jack's bed because it would block the view of the television.

Last night, hospital officials pledged a full inquiry. A health trust spokeswoman said: "We would like to offer our sincere condolences to the family of Mr Calvert. We can confirm we have received an official complaint, which is being investigated.

"We try to ensure that terminally-ill patients have as much privacy and dignity as possible and, wherever possible, we try to find them a single room in an appropriate ward."

Mrs Calvert condemned the "diabolical" situation at the hospital, claiming she had been unable to say a proper goodbye to her husband in his final hours.

"For him to have to die in a place like that was just dreadful," she said.

"He had been a private patient for about 50 years, but we were simply told there were no rooms for him. It was just horrible to go through."

Mr Calvert, a former surveyor, from Castle Bolton, Wensleydale, was admitted to the medical assessment unit on June 14 following a mini-stroke the previous day, with subsequent deep vein thrombosis.

Mrs Calvert said she repeatedly asked for a private room for her husband, a member of Bupa, and was given assurances that efforts would be made to find one.

But the family arrived the next day to find him in the middle of a busy six-bed ward, with people crowding round a TV showing the England v Denmark World Cup match.

"There were chairs squeezed in between the beds so everyone could watch the football," said Mrs Calvert.

"We were taken aside and told that he had less than 24 hours to live. By this time my husband was unconscious and yet still visibly distressed.

"We pulled the curtain around as far as we could for some privacy but, when we returned from seeing the consultant, it had been pulled back because it was obscuring other people's view of the TV.

"I appreciate it was a crucial match but there were more important things going on at the time."

Mrs Calvert has been promised a reply to her complaint within the next three weeks.

Local MP William Hague has also pledged to investigate the case.

A spokesman for the former Conservative leader said last night: "He is aware of the matter and will be taking it up with the hospital in the coming weeks."