AN inquest has been opened into the death of an elderly Alzheimer's disease sufferer.

The inquest, in Middlesbrough, heard how 90-year-old Catherine Lofthouse, a resident at the Willowview Care Home, Norton, Stockton, was taken to hospital after being found in bed with a broken thigh.

Dr Manoj Krishna, a consultant at the University Hospital of North Tees, Stockton, told the inquest into the death of Mrs Lofthouse that the spiral fracture of her left femur "was not spontaneous.''

He told assistant deputy Teesside Coroner Tony Eastwood: "Something happened. Either she fell or someone got hold of the leg and it was rotated against her will. I think a fall was the most likely cause.''

The inquest heard that senior care assistant Malcolm Bakes asked his colleague Stephen Carr to telephone for an ambulance after discovering Mrs Lofthouse lying on her bed with a broken thigh.

Mrs Lofthouse had been put to bed by care assistant Julie Sharp, who was later arrested on suspicion of wounding but released without charge.

She had put the elderly woman to bed on her own, despite the home's policy that two people should be present.

She said in a signed police statement: "I know we should use two people, but with her being a little frail old lady I could manage her on myself.''

The inquest, which was adjourned, was told the cause of Mrs Lofthouse's death, at another hospital in Teesside, in July last year, was bronchial pneumonia due to senile dementia.