A jury will hear evidence of how a care worker died in a tragic accident in the lift of a residential home.

Joan Daws, 64, was in the lift at The Laleham in Central Parade when her neck became trapped by some equipment, believed to be a weighing chair, causing her to suffer a heart attack.

Firefighters helped force the lift doors open and she was taken to the QEQM Hospital in Margate, where she died six days later.

The tragedy happened on October 16, 2013.

Mrs Daws was a senior care worker who lived in Eddington Lane, Herne Bay, and was known for baking cakes for charity.

Assistant coroner James Dillon held a hearing with solicitors for the family and the care home, and police and city council environmental health inspectors, who have been investigating the incident.

The aim was to determine which witnesses need to be called to give evidence as well as other administrative issues.

Mr Dillon indicated the hearing would be before an inquest jury and could last up to five days. A date has yet to be fixed but it will not be until late September or early October.

The Laleham, which cares for about 60 people aged over 65, received a glowing report from the Care Quality Commision after an inspection in 2013.

In the report, an inspector wrote: “There were risk assessments in place that provided guidance to staff to minimise potential risks.”

At the time of the tragedy, a spokesman for the home’s owner, Kent County Residential Homes, said: “Our sympathies and thoughts are with the family and friends of Joan at this sad time.

"We take health and safety matters very seriously and are working with Canterbury City Council’s environmental health department.”