A FARM worker of 45 years died after suffering from a rare condition caused by mould spores from straw and hay.

Roy Ratcliffe had farmer's lung, which is caused when tiny spores from crops work their way into lung cells.

The National Farmers' Union said the disease was not a common problem in the UK.

An inquest heard how the condition led to Mr Ratcliffe, who never smoked in his life, developing chronic obstructive airways disease, which had a severe effect on his breathing.

As a result, the 74-year-old developed deep vein thrombosis in his legs due to a lack of mobility.

South Staffordshire Coroner's Court was told how Mr Ratcliffe was not as active as he would have liked and spent the last few weeks of his life at Faulds House Nursing Home, in Faulds Lane, Tutbury.

Blood clots developed in his legs and on September 7 one of the clots worked free and made its way to his lungs, where it blocked an artery, leading to his death.

Giving evidence at the inquest at Burton Town Hall yesterday, consultant pathologist Dr Peter Acland said: "Mr Ratcliffe had quite a long-standing lung problem which developed into chronic obstructive airways disease. It seems to me to be pretty likely that farming was a significant factor in its development.

"Some people are just unlucky and develop this despite living a healthy life."

A spokesman for the National Farmers' Union said farmer's lung, or aspergillosis, occurred after years of exposure to and breathing in the spores of wheat, dust or mouldy hay.

He said: "Farm workers become sensitised to it over a number of years, then react. Although we have no records of the number of cases, it isn't a common problem in the UK."

Six people have been admitted to hospital in Derby suffering from the disease since 2005 and NHS Derby City, formerly Derby City Primary Care Trust, confirmed that during that time "less than five" had died as a result.

Farmer's lung can lead to chronic chest trouble and the development of scar tissue, causing irreversible damage and permanent shortness of breath.

Recording a verdict of death by an industrial disease, the coroner said: "Mr Ratcliffe spent 45 years working in farming and during the course of that work became exposed to certain diseases."

He said the "balance of probability" pointed to the farm work having led to his death.