Stoke-on-Trent Legionnaires' death inquest opens

An inquest into the death of a man from Legionnaires' disease in Stoke-on-Trent has been opened and adjourned.

Richard Griffin, 64, died in the critical care unit of the University Hospital of North Staffordshire at around 10:30 BST on Saturday.

Deputy coroner Anthony Curzon told North Staffordshire coroners court that a preliminary post-mortem showed he died from "multiple organ failure."

He said further investigations would be carried out including toxicology tests.

There have been 19 reported cases of Legionnaires' in the city, according to the Health Protection Agency.

Eight patients are still being treated at the University Hospital, while another is in Glenfield Hospital in Leicester.

The HPA said the patients, who are aged between their late 40s and mid-70s, are all in a "stable and improving condition".

The agency has identified the probable source of the outbreak as a hot tub at the JTF warehouse in Fenton and said that the company was co-operating with its investigation.