A HAMPSHIRE man died after a drug-related virus stopped his medication working properly, an inquest has heard.

Tom Bell, 56 was found dead at Westholme Care Home in Winchester, where he was staying to recover from an operation to remove his left leg below the knee because of a chronic neurological disorder.

Winchester Coroner's Court was told that the former Class A drug abuser had been prescribed two different forms of morphine, a slow release and a quick release dose.

The drugs were prescribed by his doctor at Friarsgate Practice to help with the pain from his condition, known as CIPD, which causes weakness and impaired sensory function in the legs and arms.

Mr Bell had contracted Hepatitis C, which damages the liver, during his time as a drug abuser and because of this his body was not able to metabolise the morphine quickly enough for it to leave his system in time for the next dose.

Toxicologist, Peter Streete from Hampshire Scientific Services said that the concentration of Mr Bell's morphine dose at 0.60 miligrams, which had been reduced from the initial 0.70 miligrams, was enough to kill someone but it is common for people in long term care for chronic illness to be able to tolerate a higher dose as it relieves the pain.

He added that the Hepatitis C combined with the morphine and his medication for CIPD would have slowed down the metabolic rate that his body was removing the morphine from his body and could have created a "reservoir" which eventually stopped him breathing in enough oxygen and killed him.

Mr Bell was found in his room on February 21 and pronounced dead at 4.20am.

Coroner, Grahame Short said that Mr Bell was an "unwell man" and concluded that his death was drug related and pathologist, Doctor Hayley Burnley said he died of morphine toxicity.

A member of Mr Bell's family said: "may he rest in peace."