A MAN who went into hospital for a minor operation died after contracting an antibiotic-resistant "superbug".

An inquest yesterday heard how Alan Young, 64, picked up the lethal MRSA infection after an operation to remove a gangrenous toe.

He was admitted to Darlington Memorial Hospital at the beginning of June after stubbing his toe at home.

Mr Young, of Killinghall Street in Darlington, appeared to be recovering.

But when his niece Gillian O'Hara visited him in hospital nearly two weeks later she was told he had to have his right leg amputated below the knee.

The problem was MRSA, a contagious infection only found in hospitals.

Mrs O'Hara said: "I visited him again and they were taking him to theatre because they said there was a trace of the infection in his bloodstream and in his eye.

"The next day they said it had travelled to several sites, but that he was receiving the right course of treatment."

But Mr Young, a diabetic bachelor, continued to deteriorate and he died in hospital on Tuesday.

Colin Penna, coroner for Darlington and South West Durham, recorded a verdict of misadventure.

Mrs O'Hara said after the inquest she was satisfied the staff gave him the best possible care and treatment, but was concerned about how her uncle picked up the infection in the first place.

She added: "I'll be writing to the hospital to ask what the procedures are and if anything can be done to improve them so that nothing like this happens again."