JURORS at the inquest of Arthur Horrod, a resident of a Wiltshire nursing home, said he died from natural causes but neglect had been a contributing factor.

Retired machinist Mr Horrod, a resident at Calne's Dunstan House Nursing Home, was found with bed sores as big as a hand before he died a year ago, the inquest heard.

Pathologists and doctors who examined the 76-year-old said they were the worst bed sores they had ever seen.

The jury at the four-day inquest into his death was told by Calne GP Dr Elizabeth Taudevin that she found a bed sore on his back the size of her hand.

Mr Horrod, who was described as a big man who had movement problems, died on November 6 last year at Chippenham Com-munity Hospital.

He had been admitted to Bath's Royal United Hospital on September 1 after being examined by consultants at Chippen-ham Hospital.

Jurors at the coroner's court sitting in Chippenham on Mon-day took just over an hour to return a verdict.

The jury foreman said: "Mr Horrod died from natural causes and the cause of death was contributed to by neglect."

The nursing home is owned by John and Margaret O'Dea who were in court to hear the verdict.

It was said during the inquest that an air mattress should have been provided for Mr Horrod, but was not.