THE death of a pensioner is likely to have been caused in part by a burglary at her home three hours earlier, an inquest has heard.

Thelma Avis, 90, died within hours of bogus callers stealing £1,000 from her home in Barnhall Avenue, Colchester.

Police believe the shock of the theft killed her and launched a murder hunt. No-one has been caught.

An inquest, which was held last Friday, more than six years after her death, in 2003, recorded a narrative verdict – a short factual statement of the coroner’s findings about how her death happened.

Essex Coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray said Mrs Avis’s severe heart disease meant she was vulnerable to sudden death at any time.

But she did not rule out that the anguish caused by the theft could have had an effect on housebound Mrs Avis.

She added: “The close relationship between the two events made it likely that her collapse was caused, at least in part, by the stress of the burglary.

“Its contribution would have been more than minimal.”

Conmen pretended they were from the gas board when they preyed on Mrs Avis on July 4, 2003.

About three hours later, Mrs Avis complained of feeling shaky and dizzy and collapsed. Despite efforts to resuscitate her she died at the scene.

A post-mortem examination found the cause of death to be coronary heart disease.

Mrs Beasley-Murray expressed the court’s sympathies to Mrs Avis’s two granddaughters, who were at the hearing.

Essex Police have not closed the case.