A retired medical doctor living in Washford died after he lost his grip on a banister rail and fell, an inquest heard.

Dr John Lewis, 81, of Riverside Cottage, Washford, died of severe head injuries at Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, after he fell at his home on April 21.

Monica Jones, carer to Dr Lewis' wife, Mary, said she had gone to the cottage at 8am.

"I went upstairs to see Mary, and Dr Lewis came up behind me. I got to the top, and he was half-way up," she said.

"He was holding the banister rail, but he lost his grip and fell backwards. I heard a crack as he fell to the bottom of the stairs.

"He lost a lot of blood."

West Somerset Coroner Michael Rose, sitting at Taunton on Thursday, returned a verdict of accidental death.