THE president of Pershore's Gentleman's Club died while trying to unblock the High Street venue's toilet.

John Cook, of Whitcroft Road, Pershore, was found on his hands and knees on December 6 last year with his head on a bucket that contained caustic soda, an inquest heard on Tuesday.

Worcestershire Coroner's Court in Stourport also heard how the 76-year-old's breathing was loud and gasping when Ken McDonald found him. He also had marks on his face which looked like burns.

Coroner Victor Round said it had remained a mystery as to how Mr Cook had died until a pathology report revealed the pensioner had long -standing heart disease.

"The pathologist found nothing very remarkable in the blood sample - just the right level of the blood thinning agent Mr Cook was taking," he said. "But more importantly he found evidence of long-standing heart disease caused by a lack of oxygenated blood getting to the heart.

"The most likely explanation therefore is that Mr Cook collapsed due to a heart attack and that his face and neck came into contact with the bucket," he said.

He recorded a verdict of death by natural causes.