THE nephew of former Plymouth MP and Labour leader Michael Foot died after smoking crack at his Jamaican holiday home, an inquest has heard.

Oliver Foot, aged 61, of Duloe near Liskeard, raised more than £100 million for the blind in the Third World as leader of Project Orbis International.

Southwark Coroners' Court heard he was an alcoholic, a cannabis smoker and an occasional user of crack cocaine.

He died just after his return to Britain on February 6.

His son Jesse told the hearing: "He was an alcoholic from about 25, and a regular user of marijuana.

"He developed a problem with crack cocaine, which got worse in later in his life. Largely it was something he would do every six months. He would kind of disappear and do it."

Mr Foot died in St Thomas' Hospital, London.

Pathologist Peter Jerreat said that Mr Foot had died of fluid accumulated in the lungs, caused by cocaine use.

Mr Foot's second wife, Gail, told the court that she was aware of his crack cocaine use, but said it was "recreational".

She said: "He had a very stressful job."

Coroner Selina Lynch recorded a verdict of death by non-dependant drug use.

She said: "I get the impression he died hard and fast, and relatively young."