An inquest has opened into the death of a woman from Lowestoft whose home had no heating at the time of her death. 

Olive Cox was 92 when she died on Christmas Day last year.  

The court heard how Mrs Cox was admitted to James Paget Hospital in Gorleston, near Great Yarmouth, on December 22 last year. 

Her son, who lived with Mrs Cox at her Lowestoft home, reportedly told hospital staff that his mother had been “couch-bound” for the past three days and had been unable to eat or drink.

She was also “becoming unresponsive”. 

The only source of heat in the house was a gas heater, which had been condemned.  

The court heard that it was the clinical opinion of hospital staff that the conditions in the home had contributed to Mrs Cox’s death. 

A funeral notice posted in the Beccles & Bungay Journal described Mrs Cox as the “beloved wife of Johnny (deceased) and dearest mother of Martin”.  

It continued: “Maureen was greatly loved by all who knew her and will be missed terribly by her many devoted friends and relatives”.