An 82-year-old died of natural causes in a nursing home, an inquest heard.

Leslie Homewood died at The Hollies in Stanford Avenue, Brighton, on November 10, last year.

The inquest heard yesterday Mr Homewood moved into the home in 1997.

In August 2000, Mr Homewood, who was paralysed down his left side and confined to a wheelchair, suffered severe backache and two possible minor strokes, after which his condition rapidly deteriorated.

The inquest heard his weight had fallen drastically and that he had developed bedsores.

Mr Homewood's GP Dr Jane Dealy, who is based at Preston Park surgery, last saw him on September 18. She said she had noticed bed sores but they were not serious, although a "potential worry", at that stage.

Mary Morris, a matron at the home who took up her post on October 23, told the court, she took a special "Pegasus" bed from another patient and gave it to Mr Homewood to relieve his pain.

Dr Nigel Kirkwood, who carried out a post-mortem examination on Mr Homewood on November 14, said he had died of coronary heart disease, malnutrition and bed sores.

This view was shared by Dr Roger Lewis, a consultant physician at Guy's and St Thomas's Hospital, London, but he criticised The Hollies for not having a care plan for Mr Homewood.

Acting Detective Inspector Russell Bagley of Brighton police said: "It appeared staff had done their best in the circumstances and there was no gross negligence."

Brighton and Hove coroner Veronica Hamilton-Deeley recorded a verdict of death by natural causes.