AN outbreak of Legionnaire's disease has claimed the life of an elderly woman, with two other patients in a critical condition in a hospital used by Bromsgrove residents.

Joy Billingham, a 62-year-old woman from Redditch, died last week after being the second person diagnosed with the disease.

Two weeks ago in the Advertiser/Messenger, we reported the first case of the disease, a 67-year-old woman also from Redditch. She is still in a critical but stable condition at the Alexandra Hospital.

A male patient in his fifties, again from Redditch, is the third case and is described as improving.

The source of the outbreak is not yet known but council officers and health officials continue to carry out investigations into the potential source of the outbreak and urge businesses to clean their air conditioning units.

Council officers have identified 130 potential sources and further inspections and sampling will continue

Sue Hanley, Director of Environment and Planning at Redditch Borough Council, said: "All businesses in the Redditch area are asked to disinfect their wet cooling systems. Our number one priority is to stop this disease from spreading and to protect the public's health."

Legionnaire's disease can cause pneumonia, with early symptoms including a flu-like illness with muscle aches, tiredness, a dry cough and fever.

The disease is spread through the air from a water source. Person to person spread does not occur.

There have been no further cases confirmed but anyone who thinks they have possible symptoms should see their GP or ring the helpline on 0845 0501720.