A mother-of-five died after she was bitten by one of her pet dogs during a "brief fight" between the two animals, an inquest has heard.

Michelle Hempstead, of Southend, Essex , had a Pomeranian dog called Pom and a mastiff rottweiler cross named Trigg.

The hearing in Chelmsford was told the 34-year-old had been throwing chicken nuggets to the two dogs in her flat on 29 July last year when the larger dog caught her upper arm - and an artery - when snapping at the smaller pet.

Essex senior coroner Lincoln Brookes said Pom "had a go at Trigg", who "did go to bite him or snap at him, and this is a big dog with big jaws".

He said he accepted the two dogs were "quite well behaved" and Trigg was "an otherwise gentle giant".

Ms Hempstead was taken to hospital after the incident but died

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