AN inquest into the death of a 71-year-old woman heard she suffered an accidental death due to a blood clot which formed weeks after she was trampled by cows.

Pauline Burton, of Burnthouse Lane in Staindrop, County Durham, died at her home in March of this year after complaining of chest pains and breathing problems.

She appeared to faint when paramedics were called to the scene.

Weeks prior to her death, Mrs Burton suffered a fractured left ankle when she was trampled on by four cows at her home farm.

She was given an orthopaedic boot and encouraged to weight bear whilst attending physiotherapy sessions.

At the inquest held at Crook Coroner’s Court assistant coroner Oliver Longstaff said: "There were no sinister circumstances.

"The fracture led to clotting which caused Mrs Burton to collapse when the clot obstructed the blood supply.

"The death had an a direct link to the fracture causing this tragic accident."