Cissy Townsend was moved against the advice of her GP

Cissy Townsend's original certificate - giving the cause of death as acute stress - was destroyed and replaced with a new one listing the cause as old age.

The original certificate was rejected by Gloucester Register Office because acute stress is not recognised in law.

Mrs Townsend lived at Magdalene House in Gloucester for eight years, but after the charity which runs it put prices up, the council refused to pay the �88 difference.

Against the advice of her doctor and the wishes of her family, the council moved her to a new home further away, but she died five days later.

Minor factor

Her doctor, Iain Jarvis, said the stress of the move killed her and cited stress as the cause on the death certificate.

But the certificate was destroyed in front of Mrs Townsend's family and Dr Jarvis changed the cause of death to "old age" with stress as a minor factor.

A spokesman for Gloucestershire County Council said there had been a one-day delay, caused by the need for the corrected death certificate.

On taking advice from the coroner's office, the registrar had been unable to accept the original certificate, he said.

Gloucestershire County Council now plans to hold an internal inquiry, which will be sent to the Social Services Inspectorate, and the Department of Health.