A BUG that normally causes irritating but relatively harmless throat and skin infections killed a six-year-old schoolboy when it infected his blood, an inquest heard.

Ben Smith died on November 23 from lung failure brought on by a rare blood infection, Streptococcus Septicaemia, after an unsuccessful fight by paramedics and staff at Hereford's County Hospital to resuscitate him.

Ben was found by his parents, Roy and Jackie Smith, collapsed and frothing at the mouth in the early hours of the morning.

Although they immediately summoned an ambulance there was little anyone could do and the boy died that morning.

Tributes immediately came in for someone who was described as 'a lovely and thoughtful lad ... a model to all that knew him'.

Speaking just days after his death, head teacher of Kingstone and Thruxton Primary School, Rhodri Richards said: "Ben was a happy, quiet and friendly lad who loved school and all the exciting activities that he so enjoyed doing.

"His excellent behaviour and kindness to other children was a model for all and a natural gift to him.

"With money raised from the Christmas concert and from the PTA we will be creating a permanent tribute to him in the way of a quiet play area for the children."

Coroner David Halpern found no suspicious circumstances surrounding Ben's death and recorded a verdict of accident death through natural causes.

Streptococcus is an extremely common bug and one of the most frequent causes of sore throats and skin infections.

While isolated to these areas it is relatively innocuous. It is only in the very rare cases when the bacteria enter the blood system that it can be more dangerous.

Dr Alison Johnson of Hereford's County Hospital said: "Nobody really knows why it goes into the blood but it is very rare. We get just a handful of cases every year at the County Hospital.

"Unfortunately there is little you can do about it."