An inquiry is to be held into the death of a pensioner following an outbreak of E.coli 0157 linked to supermarket meat, it was announced today.

An inquiry is to be held into the death of a pensioner following an outbreak of E.coli 0157 linked to supermarket meat, it was announced today.

Margaret Rowan, from Paisley in Renfrewshire, died last year after contracting the infection.

Eight others were treated for the virus, which health officials linked to sliced cold meat served at deli counters at two branches of supermarket chain Morrisons.

The Crown Office has ordered a fatal accident inquiry to be heard into the death of Mrs Rowan, 66, on August 13, 2007.

No date has been set for the Sheriff Court hearing, which will look at the circumstances surrounding the elderly woman's death.

Her husband was also treated for the virus.

A statement said: "Crown counsel have instructed that a fatal accident inquiry should be held concerning the death of Mrs Margaret Rowan following an outbreak of E.coli 0157 in the Renfrewshire area.

"This decision follows extensive investigations by the outbreak control team and a joint investigation by the police and the environmental health authorities in Renfrewshire under the direction of the procurator fiscal."

Sliced cold meats were withdrawn from Morrisons' Lonend and Falside Road stores following the outbreak and customers were advised not to eat any they had purchased.

The E.coli infection, which causes nausea and fever, is usually spread through contaminated food or drink.

In 1996 21 elderly people died after eating contaminated meat from a butcher's shop in Wishaw, Lanarkshire.