A FORMER school dinner lady died after vital organs failed, an inquest heard.

Ann Cation, of Osmotherley, died in the Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton, in August.

The 65-year-old was receiving treatment after coughing up blood at her home.

Following treatment, doctors noticed her lips were swollen and that her breathing sounded as if she was snoring.

They were unsure about the cause, so struggled to cure her.

A post-mortem revealed that she had suffered multiple organ failure.

Michael Oakley, the coroner for the eastern district of North Yorkshire, heard that she had suffered a lot of small strokes.

He was also told that she had cirrhosis of the liver.

Mrs Cation, of South End, a dinner lady at Osmotherley Primary School for a number of years, tended the village's public toilets for more than 40 years, receiving national and international recognition.

Mrs Cation, who also picked up rubbish from the village's streets, was rewarded with an invitation to the Queen's Garden Party at Buckingham Palace.

A verdict of death following uncommon complications from a natural disease was recorded.