THE Herefordshire coroner has taken the unusual step of opening an inquest into the death of suspected Legionnaires' disease victim Lynne Davies without a post mortem examination.

David Halpern does not believe such an examination is necessary given the medical evidence already available.

Lynne's cousin John Rendle opposed a post mortem and - at Mr Halpern's suggestion - had instructed a solicitor to seek an injunction against the examination. In the end no legal action was launched.

Having spoken to 'all the relevant people' Mr Halpern said he was satisfied a post mortem would not add to or enhance evidence available.

Mr Halpern described his decision as 'unusual but not unprecedented'.

Lynne, a 56-year-old former nurse of Ryelands Street, Hereford, died at Hereford County Hospital on Monday, December 1. She had other chronic illnesses.

The inquest, opened on Tuesday, will examine the effects of Legionnaires' disease on her already frail health.

With no new cases of Legionnaires' confirmed since November 20 - and the five victims still in hospital either stable or improving - Dr Mike Deakin, director of public health, is confident the outbreak is finally over.

Investigate

He is confident, too, that the source of the disease had been correctly identified as a cooling plant at Bulmers.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is, however, continuing its investigations into water systems across the city to ensure companies are complying with regulation.

"The source of the outbreak has been attributed by (Herefordshire Council) supporting the infection control committee," said HSE inspector Tony Woodward.