Post-mortem examinations have been ordered after two people, who contracted Legionnaire's Disease in the Cumbria outbreak, died over the Christmas period.

The elderly man and woman, who are not being named and are not related, were among more than 140 people who became infected during an outbreak in Barrow-in-Furness in August 2002.

Health officials are unsure as to the exact cause of death.

But Furness coroner Ian Smith ordered the post-mortems after concerns from relatives about a possible link to the outbreak, which claimed seven lives.

Police are investigating the August outbreak, which was traced to a 30-year-old air conditioning plant at Barrow's Forum 28 arts complex.

The Cumbria force says it is considering corporate manslaughter charges in connection with the deaths.

If no charges are forthcoming, a full inquest will be held into the deaths of all the victims.