A woman who died from variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD) did not die of natural causes, a coroner has ruled.

Leicester coroner Martin Symington recorded a verdict of death by misadventure on Pamela Bayless, 24, who died five years ago.

Miss Bayless was the first of five people connected with the village of Queniborough to die from vCJD.

The inquest was told those who developed the disease were likely to have bought meat from butchers where it could have been contaminated with BSE.

I am satisfied that on the balance of probabilities, Pamela did not die from natural causes Coroner Martin Symington

The inquest was held at Leicester Town Hall after a campaign for a hearing by Miss Bayless's father, Arthur.

He told the inquest his daughter had deteriorated rapidly and became withdrawn, from around two and a half years before her death.

He said at first her work became unsatisfactory and they put it down to a breakdown in a long-term relationship.

However, within months she was having periods where her mind went blank.

Families interviewed

He said she was diagnosed as have stress and psychosis problems.

In February 1997 tests suggested she could be suffering from vCJD.

Recording his verdict, the coroner said: "I am satisfied that on the balance of probabilities, Pamela did not die from natural causes."

Pamela Beyless was one of five people who died

Dr Philip Monk, a consultant in communicable disease control based in Leicester, said he interviewed the families of all the people who had contracted vCJD who were linked to the village of Queniborough.

He told the coroner those people who had vCJD were more likely to have purchased meat from butchers where it could have been contaminated with BSE.

Normal food

He said: "People who developed CJD were 15 times more likely to have been exposed to that meat than people who had not."

But when asked about Pamela's diet, Mr Beyless said all the family had eaten the same foods together.

He said: "She ate normal food like kebabs, burgers and sausages - just typical food."