A Coroner has ordered a probe into the death of former Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Stanley King.

Mr King died in Bradford Royal Infirmary on October 7 and now senior hospital staff are to be quizzed over the events that led up to it.

A family spokesman said they had concerns about Mr King’s treatment and had been in contact with the Bradford coroner yesterday about the new investigation.

He said the coroner had now cancelled the death certificate.

The spokesman said: “Our sadness has been exacerbated by the treatment he did – or did not – receive.”

Friends of Mr King, 80, say they understand he suffered a burst appendix and subsequent peritonitis, which they say could have been prevented.

Michael Burnside, who knew Mr King for more than 20 years, also claimed his friend was left waiting for a CT scan and treatment on a trolley at BRI for up to 12 hours.

Now, he said, he wants to know the truth.

Mr Burnside also alleged that beforehand Mr King was told by a doctor at Leylands Medical Centre in Heaton that he was just suffering from indigestion.

An inquest into Mr King’s death has been opened and adjourned in Bradford pending the findings of the inquiry.

Mr Burnside said: “Stanley had a prostate problem. He had terrific tummy pains.

“He went to see a doctor at Leylands Medical Centre and they told him he had indigestion.”

Mr King’s pain continued at home and he saw an emergency doctor on October 5, who according to Mr Burnside, also said it was indigestion.

He was taken to BRI in the early hours of October 6.

Another close friend, who did not want to be named, said Mr King was in the operating theatre by about 8.30pm on October 6.

“I am assuming because of his age, they thought he was a moaning Minnie,” said Mr Burnside. “They left him on a trolley for 12 hours.”

He added: “If he had had the proper treatment I am sure he could have lived.

“He was misdiagnosed. He was not one to moan at belly ache. The pain was actually a perforated appendix.

“I think it stinks. The truth needs to come out.”

A spokesman for Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs BRI, said: “The Foundation Trust would like to express our sympathies to Mr King’s family and friends at this sad time.

“As the inquest has yet to be held, it would be inappropriate to comment further.”

Commenting on behalf of Leylands Medical Centre, a spokesman for NHS Airedale, Bradford and Leeds said: “We have not received a complaint but we would fully investigate any concerns if we did. In light of the inquest proceedings it is inappropriate for us to comment further.”

Hundreds of mourners turned out at Mr King’s funeral last Friday.

Mr King served on Bradford Council for almost 40 years as a Conservative representative for Heaton until his retirement in 2008.