The patient is said to be 'recovering well'

The man, from Corby, was admitted to Kettering General Hospital on 14 July. He is said to be in a stable condition.

Extensive tests are being carried out at the man's home, and at his place of work, details of which are not being made public at the moment.

A spokeswoman for the Health Protection Agency said it was a confirmed case of the disease and tests are continuing.

Checks on water supplies

It is understood the tests are being carried out on water supplies and air conditioning units at the man's home and where he works in Corby.

The spokeswoman for the Agency's East Midlands South office, said: "Often it is very difficult to pin-point where the source is, but this is an individual case, it is not an outbreak."

Four years ago, a 49-year-old woman from Corby died from Legionnaire's, although experts said they were unable to prove how she contracted the disease.

All tests on samples taken from her home and places she had visited showed no trace of the legionella bacteria.

Legionnaire's disease is a form of pneumonia which can only be spread from contaminated water systems.