A teacher who was stabbed in her classroom in the British city of Leeds died from "shock and haemorrhage", the coroner's court has heard.

Ann Maguire (61) suffered several stab wounds during the attack in front of pupils, but it was a cut to her neck that severed her jugular vein that was fatal, Detective Chief Inspector Nick Wallen said.

She was killed during a Spanish lesson at Corpus Christi Catholic College on April 28th.

During the seven-minute hearing, Detective Wallen said Mrs. Maguire was "very seriously injured" when she was reached by paramedics on the top floor of the modern languages department.

"Sadly, she did not survive her injuries and her death was pronounced at 1:10pm" he said.

He told coroner David Hinchliff that two post-mortem examinations had come to the same conclusion about the cause of death.

"Although there were a number of stab wounds, a stab wound to her neck had severed her jugular vein and was the fatal injury" he said.

None of Mrs. Maguire's family were in court as Mr. Hinchliff adjourned the inquest to a date to be decided later.

Mrs. Maguire had worked at the school for more than 40 years and was described as "the mother of the school". She was due to retire in September.

She lived with her husband Don and leaves behind two grown-up daughters and two nephews, who she brought up as her own sons after the death of her sister.

A boy (15) was remanded in custody after appearing in court accused of murdering Mrs. Maguire. He is due to go on trial later this year.