AN ELDERLY woman died of hypothermia in her home after possibly suffering a 'medical episode' while making Christmas cake, an inquest has heard.

The body of Dorothy Trew was discovered at her home by police on January 13. However, it is thought she died on, or shortly after, Christmas Day.

Winchester Coroner's Court heard the 89-year-old had been living in cold and damp conditions at her home in Whitefield Road, New Milton.

Police were called to Ms Trew's home by her son, who lives in the US, over concerns for her welfare. Officers found her lying on the kitchen floor in a state of decomposition.

The flat was heated only by a small electric fire.

PC Matt Smith told the inquest the radiators seemed to be off. The ingredients for a Christmas cake were on the kitchen counter, along with a copy of the Radio Times dated December 24.

No one had heard from Ms Trew since Christmas, he said.

Pathologist Dr Adrian Bateman said the cause of her death was hypothermia.

Recording a conclusion of death due to natural causes, assistant coroner Simon Burge said: "The cause of death was given as hypothermia, but it is not clear what caused her to fall."

Following the inquest, Yvette Christian, deputy CEO of Age Concern Hampshire, said: "Usually these cases are few and far between, thankfully, but they still do happen.

"We need to be neighbourly and keep an eye on people. It's quite rare but social isolation is horrible.

"There are resources and organisations out there to help."