An inquest into the deaths of two people while being treated at hospitals in north Cumbria, has heard how tubes were wrongly inserted into their lungs.

The nasogastric tubes should have gone into the stomachs of Michael Parke and Amanda Coulthard, but instead fed directly into their lungs.

Mr Parke, 40, from Cockermouth, died at the West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven on December 6, 2012.

Mrs Coulthard, 57, from Penrith, died at Carlisle's Cumberland Infirmary on April 2016.

Following the death of Mr Parke, from Gote Road, police were alerted by coroner David Roberts, who had raised concerns.

Police also contacted national health chiefs at the Care Quality Commission (CQC) after launching an investigation into the death of Mrs Coulthard.

Hospital staff have been giving evidence at the inquest in Kendal this morning.

Coroner David Roberts said that post mortems following the two deaths revealed both died from pneumonia as a result of the insertion of the tubes.

Speaking at the inquest, pathologist Dr Alison Armour said that a post mortem carried out on Mr Parke revealed the size of his lungs were "grossly abnormal".

She said: "It [aspiration pneumonia] occurs when a person inhales or regurgitates stomach contents or food into the airways, which then end up in the lung.

"This is very irritant because the lung is not designed to take food and causes a reaction within the lung which causes aspiration pneumonia."

Mr Roberts was told that Mr Parke was admitted to hospital in November 2012 and had been suffering from chronic liver failure.

Dr Zahid Mahmood, a gastroenterologist working at the West Cumberland Hospital at the time of Mr Parke's death said a nasogastric tube had been fitted on November 5.

He said he requested an X-Ray to be undertaken to ensure that the tube was in Mr Parke's stomach.

However three days later, on November 8, it was recognised the tube had been misplaced and was actually in his left lung.

The inquest continues.