A WINCHESTER woman died after a condition "uncommon in the UK" caused her health complications.

Margaret Dawkins, 76, was diagnosed with extrinsic allergic alveolitis in 2012 – a lung disorder that leads to respiratory difficulties.

An inquest heard that on August 28 2020, the Woolford Close resident died at Royal Hampshire County Hospital.

Area coroner Jason Pegg told the hearing: "This condition is quite uncommon in the UK. Over 300 things that Ms Dawkins had breathed in her life were listed by doctors as what could have caused the condition."

Figures show that in 60 per cent of extrinsic allergic alveolitis cases, the cause is never identified.

Mr Pegg asked Ms Dawkins' children Debbie Johnson and Michael Mattock, who joined the inquest virtually, if their mother had any contact with pet birds in her lifetime as this can sometimes cause the condition.

It was revealed that her father had an aviary during her childhood.

Mr Mattock said: "Our mother was a very strong lady. She brought three kids up on her own and worked mostly full time jobs. She was fit and healthy up until the age of 68. Before that she had never really fallen ill.

"One person she used to work with, a lifelong friend also has a lung condition now. Just after she retired, mum started becoming short of breath."

The medical cause of death was recorded as multi-organ failure, with pneumonia and the alveolitis contributing.

Ms Dawkins' condition had caused the lungs to inflame and scar.

Jason Pegg concluded the inquest as death by natural causes.