It is not thought the bacteria originated in the building

The 62-year-old man was working for a sub-contractor at the Reading offices of the Royal Payments Agency, which deals with EU subsidy payments.

The unnamed man, who is from the Reading area, was admitted to hospital last month and died a week later.

Reading Borough Council, the primary care trust and the Health Protection Agency are investigating the case.

Cases 'not linked'

A spokesman for the council said: "There is nothing to suggest that the building is the source."

He added that another patient had contracted Legionnaire's disease in the Reading area in May and later recovered but the cases are not thought to be linked.

A joint statement from the Reading Primary Care Trust and the council said: "A 62-year-old man from the Reading area has died from Legionnaire's disease.

"He was admitted to the Royal Berkshire Hospital with the disease on 22 June, his condition deteriorated gradually and the patient sadly died a week later."

A spokesman for the Royal Payments Agency said: "Since the confirmed case of Legionnaire's disease sample tests have been carried out that confirm that there is nothing to suggest that the systems are unsafe."