The coroner at the inquest of Moors murderer Myra Hindley has offered his condolences to her victims' families.

Greater Suffolk coroner Peter Dean said Hindley's death may well have stirred up the grief of relatives of the murder victims 36 years on.

We should not in our thoughts forget the families of those who died in such tragic circumstances

Coroner Peter Dean

Hindley died of bronchial pneumonia due to heart problems, the inquest heard on Monday.

The 60-year-old, who died in hospital on Friday, was jailed with Ian Brady for life in 1966 for the murders of 10-year-old Lesley Ann Downey and Edward Evans, 17.

She later admitted killing 12-year-old Keith Bennett and Pauline Reade, 16, and helped police to unearth the latter's body on Saddleworth Moor. Keith's body has never been found.

Jury

The inquest into Hindley's death was opened and adjourned at Highpoint Prison near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, on Monday.

A jury hearing will take place at a later date.

Coroner Mr Dean said: "We should not in our thoughts forget the families of those who died in such tragic circumstances many years ago ... And whose grief may have been rekindled by ... death of Myra Hindley.

"We offer our thoughts and condolences to the families of the innocent victims at this time and all of those who have cause to grieve at this time."

Cremation

Home Office pathologist Dr Michael Heath, who carried out the post mortem examination at West Suffolk hospital, in Bury St Edmunds, said she died of bronchial pneumonia due to heart disease.

Hindley was Britain's longest serving female prisoner

She suffered from high blood pressure and poor blood supply to the heart, resulting in blocked coronary arteries, he said.

Mr Dean said part of the inquest's purpose was to allow the body to be released.

Police have refused to say when her funeral will take place, but she is expected to be cremated in Cambridge.

Her ashes are then expected to be scattered at an undisclosed location.