A MIDDLEWICH man has died and as many as 12 others could have been struck down after an outbreak of the deadly salmonella bug.

Kenneth Lea, 53, of Poplar Drive, was admitted to Leighton Hospital on Wednesday, August 9.

Two days later he was transferred to intensive care, but he died on Thursday, August 17, at 7.50am.

In a statement a spokesman for South Cheshire Health Authority said: "We are investigating, with the borough councils' environmental health departments of Congleton, Vale Royal and Crewe and Nantwich, a cluster of salmonella cases which have occurred in the last two weeks.

"The investigations are taking into account a number of possible reasons for the cases occurring including the possibility of it being food-borne, but we are not at liberty to comment further."

Fears that a Middlewich pub could be responsible for the outbreak are unconfirmed, but the health authority added: "Some of the people have eaten outside their own home, but no single food premises is connected to all cases.

"There are six cases confirmed with the same strain of particular salmonella and seven other cases awaiting results."

An inquest into the death of Mr Lea has been opened and adjourned.

He worked as a senior production engineer at ERF and a company spokesman said: "Ken had been with us since March 1974.

"He was very well known and much respected and liked by everyone who worked for him, and the rest of the management team.

"He will be sadly missed."

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