AN inquest into the death of a great-grandmother who suffered fatal injuries in a County Durham care home has been delayed due to an ongoing homicide review.

Crook Coroners' Court today (January 25) heard a review into "potential criminal liability" was still being carried out following the death of dementia sufferer Jennie Bryant.

The 89-year-old was living at Brockwell Court Care Home, on Cobden Street, in Consett, when she was believed to have suffered a blow to the head on June 28, 2014, during an alleged attack.

She was taken to the University Hospital North Durham for treatment but died a week later on July 5 as a result of blunt trauma to the head, a previous inquest review heard.

Fellow care home resident Brian Moon, 72, was charged with the manslaughter of Mrs Bryant but died of pneumonia on December 22, 2015, before the case was heard.

At the inquest review today, County Durham coroner Andrew Tweddle said: "From reading the papers it would seem a gentleman had been charged with offences relating to Jennie Bryant's death.

"I'm led to believe that before that case was heard that gentleman has died.

"I understand that there is a homicide review still ongoing which is looking at potential criminal liability, not withstanding the death of this other gentleman, and that a formal report is likely to be available but it is difficult to say when."

Mr Tweddle added that although a delay in such matters was "frustrating", he said: "When enquiries are ongoing of such a serious nature it would be foolish for me to press on."

There will be another review on February 22.