AN 84-year-old widow suffered severe burns after getting into a hot bath, an inquest heard yesterday.

Annie Fagin, of The Byway, Darlington, was found still alive in what was by then a bath full of cold water, by PC Peter Hoole at lunchtime on December 29, 1999.

The officer broke into Mrs Fagin's home following a call from a home help who was worried when the pensioner did not answer the door.

PC Hoole told Middlesbrough Coroner's Court that he spoke to Mrs Fagin, who lived alone, through the open bathroom window before entering the house.

"Annie stated she had been there since the previous night," he said. "There was nothing to indicate whether she had climbed or fallen into the bath."

The court heard that Mrs Fagin was unable to remember how she had got into the bath. She was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital, then transferred to the burns unit at Middlesbrough General Hospital, where she died on January 2, 2000, of pneumonia.

Dr Richard Jones, consultant pathologist at Middlesbrough General Hospital, said Mrs Fagin had extensive burns on her back and the left-side of her body and had recently had a stroke. She developed bronchial pneumonia as a result of the burns.

Deputy coroner Gordon Hetherington said it was likely that Mrs Fagin had either had a stroke and fallen into the bath or suffered a stroke after getting into the hot water.

He recorded a verdict of accidental death.