A TIN of bolognese sauce was behind the sudden death of mother-of-four Raya French, an inquest was told.

In a statement read to the hearing, her eldest daughter, Alexandra French, said her mother was cooking dinner at the family home in Wynn Road, Tankerton, near Whitstable, when she collapsed on November 28 last year.

She was taken to hospital suffering from anaphylactic shock, brought on by a tomato allergy, and died four days later, never regaining consciousness.

Alexandra, 15, a pupil at the Community College, Whitstable, explained she was changing when her mother asked her what she wanted to eat. "Spaghetti bolognese" she replied.

Moments later Alexandra’s mother said she felt "queasy" and her condition began to deteriorate.

Alexandra’s description of the dramatic decline of Mrs French, was read in moving detail by North-East Kent deputy coroner Ian Goldup.

She explained: "Mum was trying to calm herself down by breathing deeply. I rang 999. She was getting worse. The woman at the ambulance control asked me to check for the pulse but I couldn’t find it in her neck. Mum couldn’t talk."

East Kent Hospital Trust pathologist Dr George Vittay, who examined 37-year-old Mrs French, said her death on December 2 after four days on life support was due to a tomato allergy.

Asked by the coroner what had triggered the condition when she collapsed, Dr Vittay said: "I have not had experience of tomato allergy before. It is a very rare occurrence."

He said an examination of Mrs French showed findings consistent with a brain deprived of oxygen.

A report by the Whitstable Medical Practice that treated Mrs French over several years said she had been seen on about 25 occasions over her tomato allergy and had first suffered an allergic reaction to tomatoes in September 2000. It was later confirmed she had asthma and was allergic to pollen, potato peelings and fresh tomatoes.

In April last year Mrs French became increasingly concerned because her allergy reactions had become more severe.

The coroner recorded death by natural causes.

Her husband, Stephen French, attended the inquest but gave evidence only to confirm his wife’s identity.

The death stunned the community, and almost 300 people attended her funeral at All Saints’ Church, Whitstable. Among the mourners were staff and parents of pupils at Swalecliffe School where Mr and Mrs French’s three youngest children, Tom, 10, Maddison, six, and Louis, four, attended and Mrs French served as a governor.