AN inquest was opened into the "unusual case" of a Matchborough West man who died in hospital.

Charles Brennan, a retired engineer, died on January 25 in the Alexandra Hospital after being admitted a week before for a colostomy operation.

Last week, Worcestershire Coroner Victor Round told the inquest Mr Brennan's operation was cancelled because he looked unwell.

Hospital staff believed he may have been suffering from gastro-intestinal bleeding.

The court was told Mr Brennan, who was 66 and divorced, had not been eating in the weeks before his death.

He had suffered from bowel cancer in the past and was convinced he had cancer again.

Mr Round said: "This is an unusual case because there was very little to account for his death at the post mortem examination."

The hearing was adjourned to a date to be fixed.