A woman who suffered from deep vein thrombosis died from natural causes, a Coroner has ruled.

Anne Patricia Richardson complained of feeling pain in her right leg and went to see her doctor in January.

The 38-year-old was referred to Dewsbury and District Hospital to have tests but the condition was not found as it might have developed later, Bradford Coroner's Court heard yesterday.

Mrs Richardson, of The Burrows, in Birstall, was advised to return to hospital a week later but collapsed on arrival.

A post-mortem examination showed that the cause of death was a blood clot in her lungs.

The inquest heard how Mrs Richardson was advised by her doctor to stop taking an oral contraceptive pill for period pain when it was suspected last year that she might have deep vein thrombosis in her left leg.

But her doctor, Stuart Lawson, told the inquest that when he saw Mrs Richardson in January he discovered she was still taking the pill without his knowledge on repeat prescriptions.

He told the hearing that some communication from the hospital giving details of their diagnosis and recommendations about treatment would have been helpful.

Recording a verdict of natural causes, Deputy Coroner Mark Hinchliffe said he believed there had been "failings" in communication.

He believed the blood clot was the consequence of a number of factors, but he could not say what role the oral contraceptive had played.

Mr Hinchliffe added the cause of the deep vein thrombosis was a "matter of speculation".